President Jammeh to Open Second Legislative Year Tomorrow

His Excellency the President Alhagie Yahya Jammeh is expected to preside over the state opening of the National Assembly for the second legislative year 2008 tomorrow, Friday 29th March.

The occasion, scheduled to take place at the National Assembly complex in Banjul, will provide the President the opportunity to outline his government's development plans for the year and the achievements of his administration.

In connection with the occasion, information from the office of the Speaker has it that delegates, led by four Speakers from sub-regional parliaments, will today arrive in the country from Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Sierra Leone to grace the occasion.

In retrospect, an in-depth analyses of the address he made on the 2007 state opening of parliament shows that President Jammeh is on record for emphasising that The Gambia's relationship with any country would be based on mutual respect and interest, honesty, transparency and non-interference in the internal affairs of each other's affairs. He also said that such relationship would be guided by the cardinal principle of the equality of nations irrespective of size, economy or military might.

Highlighting his administration's programmes and policies for 2007, President Jammeh expressed his government's commitment to the revitalisation and improvement of the agricultural sector with a view to ensuring increased agricultural output, availability of foreign exchange, as well as national food and income security.

He cited the creation of the National Agricultural Development Agency (NADA) as a clear testimony to the departments restructuring. "NADA's main objectives, according to President Jammeh, "include the effective and efficient generation, mobilisation and utilisation of human, financial and material resources for the sustainable development of the sector."

On defence, the Gambian leader said his government would not relent in its resolve to execute necessary measures to preserve the peace and security enjoyed by The Gambia.

According to President Jammeh, six major programmes would be the centre of focus for the next eight years. "Among these," he went on, "are basic, secondary, tertiary, vocational education and training as provided for in the National Education Policy."

Commenting on Finance and Economic Affairs, the President noted that fiscal policy would be the principal instrument of consolidating micro-economic stability.

"The vision of the health sector," President Jammeh added, "is the attainment of quality health care for all Gambians that would be a model in the African region by the year 2020."

As usual bills and motions will also be presented to the National Assembly for enactment as well as treaties and agreements for ratification.