President
Adama Barrow has called on Gambians to use the country’s 55th Independence
Anniversary as a moment of stocktaking and to unite on issues of national
interest and not on partisan conflicts.
Barrow
was addressing thousands of Gambians, who thronged McCarthy Square on Tuesday
during activities marking the country’s 55th Independence anniversary.
In
a more unified independence speech, Barrow further urged Gambians as true sons
and daughters of the country to use the moment to reflect on the implications
of independence; not only political independence, but also social and economic
independence.
“Celebrating
the anniversary of this historic event should trigger thoughts to guide us
redefine our individual roles as citizens of this nation in order to situate
and reposition our motherland better on the global stage,” he said.
Emerging
from decades of under-development, slowed progress, retarded growth and
dictatorship, Barrow maintained that the time has come for Gambians to reflect
objectively and selflessly on what needs to be done differently for better
results.
Mr.
Barrow reminded that as the country marks the last independence anniversary of
this decade, the opportunity has come for citizens to turn a new leaf by
beginning the next decade much better, with renewed patriotic zeal in the
“third republic.”
He
also called on people to demonstrate what independence means to them as they
prepare for the next series of national elections.
He
continued: “Let us demonstrate that we are capable of managing our own affairs
by accommodating our differences, celebrating our successes, providing feedback
with discipline, and expressing our opinions with respect and dignity.”
