North Bank Region on Saturday 17th March celebrated the country’s 42nd Independent anniversary at Kerewan.

The celebration took a form of match-past, led by The Gambia Police Band.

Addressing the gathering, Eduwar Seckhan, Governor of North Bank Region said being a patriot and to contribute effectively to national development has to begin with an appreciation of our cultural heritage and national circumstances, including its predicaments and comparative advantages.

He added that it must be predicted on identifying with one’s people and national aspirations in a manner that would instill pride and a sense of belonging to one’s community and nation. “It is obvious that a nation cannot thrive in the absence of peace, security and social cohesion. As we continue to evolve as a democratic nation, we must anchor all of these ideals to the democratic practices and principles that we have grown here over the years,” he noted.

Governor Seckhan stated that The Gambia is a blessed land with people of rich and diverse cultural shades. “We have a common bondage that is almost unique to us. We celebrate and continue to nurture a society of special type, underpinned by a delicately knitted communal way of life, in which we respect on another. This is true patriotism that should be translated into positive dispensation of our political or civic responsibility,” he stated.

He then promised the people that the agricultural sector would continue to receive government’s priority attention for it’s the key in the battle against poverty and deprivation. “We will not relent efforts until agriculture ceases to be a seasonal pre-occupation and is completely transformed from subsistent to business enterprises and until we advance from primary production to value-added agro-processing,” he said.

He reiterated that development cannot take place in the absence of health and education.

On health, Governor Seckhan said “health conditions and services will therefore have to be appreciably improved, and access to quality education be extended to all. We are proud of the achievements and steady progress made in these areas so far. However, such patriotic interventions as cleaning our environment, organising and supporting adult literacy classes and nursery centres, girls’ education, will go a long way in complementing government’s efforts”.

He finally urged the people of NBR to put aside their political differences and come together to work in the interest of the nation.