Gambia
Teachers Union Young Teachers Platform said it has learnt with great sadness of
the devastating news of the loss of more than 50 young Gambians at sea off the
coast of Mauritania last week, while trying to travel to Europe via boat.
The
young teachers described the news as sad and shocking and joined the rest of
the nation in mourning the demise of the innocent souls.
“With
a heavy heart, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and
pray that Almighty Allah in his infinite grace and mercy grant the young
departed souls a blissful rest in Jannah,” the platform said in a statement.
“The
Young Teachers Platform sees the loss as one of the greatest lost the nation
ever has in history. At a time we thought that we have made the right choices
in our governance structure. chicese
that would address issues of national concern such as unemployment, it is of
shock that these young lives lost at sea were on a journey in search of greener
pastures,” it stated.
They
called on the government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports to be more
proactive and to give due attention to issues that are of greater national
concern, stating that young people constitute a greater percentage of the
country’s population and therefore it should be incumbent upon the government
to give due and diligent attention to this constituent.
“We
as a nation cannot and shouldn’t sit and watch our young people’s lives
continue to perish at sea just for the search of better living conditions.”
They
also called on the government, National Youth Council and all relevant
stakeholders to take key positions in discharging their functions for the
interest and in the interest of the young people.
