Bakary
Saibo Sanneh, chairman of Brikama Area Council (BAC), has said that young
people are an untapped reservoir of talent and it is essential to give them the
right tools to express their opinions and unlock their potentials.
“Today’s
generation of youth is the largest in history. Yet too often, across the world,
the opportunities for young people to engage politically, economically and
socially are limited,” he said during the opening of a daylong International
Youth Day and 2017 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and
Development.
Held
at Kubuneh village, Kombo Central, the event was organised by Samaasang
Federation, an affiliate of ChildFund The Gambia, and it was aimed at enhancing
the contribution of youth in cultural diversity and peaceful coexistence of
tribes for effective community poverty eradication and enhancing sustainable
development.
The
event was held under the theme: ‘Youth in cultural diversity for peaceful coexistence,
eradicating poverty and enhancing sustainable development’.
Mr
Sanneh said growing inequality, extreme poverty and the threat of climate
change bring into focus the fact that the action (or inaction) of present
generation can jeopardise the rights and well being of generations yet to be
born.
“When
we give youth voice, in politics and public life, strengthen their skills and
facilitate their access to decent jobs, they can play their full part in
building stronger and more inclusive communities,” he said.
BAC
chairman noted that empowering young people and ensuring their participation at
all levels would help them shape a better and more equitable future for
everyone.
He
called on for public-private partnerships and joining efforts in eliminating
all barriers young people face so as to make them less vulnerable to any sort
of exclusion.
“I
want to urge you the young people to double up your efforts in nation building.
No one will come from the sky to develop this country for us,” Mr Sanneh said.
Amadou
Tambedou, child and youth officer at Samaasang Federation, said for poverty
eradication initiatives to be successful, there must be cultural tolerance
among people.
“We
can only eradicate poverty and develop as a country if we work together as one
people, family and nation and push tribal difference out,” he said.
Baboucarr
Secka, sports coordinator, West Coast Region, said Gambians should not use
their identity as Jola, Mandinka, Wollof, or Fula.
“We
should see ourselves as Gambians nothing else,” he said. “If we all have this concept the country will
be easily develop without much problem.”
Lamin
Darboe, executive director of National Youth council (NYC), called on young
people to be tolerant and respect each other and put aside tribal differences.
“What
we should be thinking is how to develop our country, what to eat and how to
address the unemployment problems that young people are facing, but not tribal
differences,” he said.
He
also tasked the elders to help in counseling the young ones on the bad effects
of tribalism.
Alagie
Darboe, National Assembly member for Brikama North, said youth needs to be
giving their sense of responsibility, saying democracy and human right goes
with responsibility.
He
challenged Gambian youth to be responsible in the new found democracy.
“The
dream of looking for greener pasture has ended in The Gambia. Gambia is greener
and there is no country greener than The Gambia,” he said.
“Politics
should not be a tool to divide us, it should challenge us. No single party can
win election based on tribal line. Tribalism has no room in this country, let
us work together as one family and people to the development of our country.”
