Kanifing Municipal Council last Friday signed a twinning accord with the Libertador Municipality of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of many dignitaries at the KMC premises in Kanifing.

Speaking at the occasion, Alieu Momarr Njai, the Lord Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, said he had received correspondence from the Department of State for Foreign Affairs about the arrangements made by President Jammeh to match the Municipality of Libertador in Caracas with the KMC in a twinning relationship. He acknowledged the foresight of President Jammeh, thanking him for showing the path to his Venezuelan counterpart.

The KMC Lord Mayor further noted that decentralised co-operation between cities in the modern world was not an option but an imperative to constructing the socio-economic structures upon which global integration and sustainable development within a climate of political cohesion could be based.

“I am happy to announce that Libertador and Kanifing, within the twinning agreement, have taken the right direction by undertaking to co-operate extensively in areas of mutual interest and benefit to our peoples, while we continue to recognise North-South cooperation,” he said, adding that lack of basic human needs such as clean and potable water, sufficient food, adequate shelter and comprehensive health care in developing nations, receive less attention by developed countries in favour of ambiguous political theories and conventions that are not the least likely to better the lives of the poor and the under- privileged.

Mayor Njie assured his municipality’s support of the policies and programmes of the government of the day in developing The Gambia.

Jose Romero Prado, a representative of Mayor Bernal in Libertador, said he was delighted to sign the twining accord with KMC.

The Secretary of State for Interior, Ousman Sonko, the Venezuelan Ambassador, the Alkalo of Serrekunda, Mr Jobe, Abdoulie MB Sanyang, CEO KMC and the Headmistress of Old Jeshwang Lower Basic School all took turn to give speeches. Cultural groups entertained the gathering. Many Secretaries of State and other dignitaries graced the occasion.