Editor,

It is incumbent on all good citizens whether civil servant or not, with a spirit of patriotism, to expose ideas that, when applied constructively by those concerned, will yield good fruits.

The Gambia is a secular state. But the colonial rulers did not give the Muslim community the plenitude of their time to consecrate themselves body and mind to the practice of their religious rites.

Saturday, the sabbath, is a sacred day for the Jews. No Jew will work on Saturday, Sunday is a sacred day for the Christians. No Christian will work on Sunday. Friday is a sacred day for the Muslim. Why should the Muslim work on Friday morning when they should be preparing themselves for the Friday congregation?

Now that we are independent and the colonial rulers are no more, some of their influences should be done away with.

My humble suggestion is, let us divide the four hours of the Friday morning by four and add one hour to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Work will then close at 5pm instead of 4pm and give Friday the devotion it deserves from the Muslims. This is the only way we can ensure a fair play.

Abba Faal

Brikama (phone contact withheld)