The youths of Keneba village in Kiang West district over the weekend embarked on a ten thousand tree-planting exercise in the district.
The exercise, which brought together hundreds of youths and elderly persons, was graced by Hon. Jatto Sillah, the Minister of Forestry and Environment and Abdoulie Sanneh, Director of Forestry.
Speaking at the exercise, Forestry Minister Sillah commended the environmental association of Kiang West for their initiative, noting that it is one of the ways of protecting the flora and fauna.
He underscored government’s resolve to ensure the protection of the country's forest cover, which he added, will not be compromised.
He urged youths of other districts and villages to emulate the youths of Kiang West, who participated in the planting of ten thousand trees in their forest park.
He used the occasion to call on the youths to change their attitudes towards nation-building, noting that they are the future leaders.
For his part, the Village Development Committee, VDC's Chairman of Keneba village, Ebrima Cessay expressed dismay in the way and manner in which youths of Kiang West, particularly those residing in the urban area for not paying adequate attention to the development of the district.
He expressed their resolve to protect the country’s forest by all means, noting that there cannot be any meaningful development without good forest cover.
Other speakers at the exercise included the Director of Forestry, Abdoulie Sanneh, Kebba Ceesay, who spoke on behalf of the youths of the village, Ansumana Ceesay Secretary-General of Keneba Youth Environmental Association and Baba Danso, a representative of the village Alkalo and Aja Jambai Minteh, who spoke on behalf of the women folk of the village.
