Youth in the Lower River Region have begun general structural transformation and stabilization of all district youth committees with a view to meeting demands of the next National Youth Conference and Festival (Nayconf) to be hosted by the region for the first time.
It would be recalled that the Minister of Youth and Sports, Honorable Alieu K. Jammeh, confirmed on the final day of the Bansang Nayconf in January this year that the Lower River Region (LRR) went unopposed in its bid to host the biannual national youth event in 2014.
His pronouncement was received with doubts as to whether the region will have the required facilities in place for the event, such as accommodation, water and electricity, and standard sporting grounds.
Also at the Bansang Nayconf, the regional governor, Lamin Darboe urged the LRR youth at their Nayconf camp then to be prepared to defend their pledge to ensure a successful event by instituting a local organizing committee two months after the Bansang Nayconf.
He believed that his region should take advantage of early preparation to possess reliable grounds including the proposed construction of Nayconf Villa in the Mansakonko area.
The LRR Regional Youth Chairperson said at the Jarra West District Youth Congress last weekend that time has come for them to stabilize each of the six district committees of the region for them to realize their shared goal of successful host of 2014 Nayconf.
On why Jarra West was the first port of call for the stabilization exercise, Mr Ceesay said the district is most likely to be the main host of next year’s event thanks to the advantage it has over all other districts in terms of infrastructure and sporting facilities.
The congress delegates endorsed the election of a new committee to stir the governance of the Jarra West District for the next two years.
The new committee members include Alhasan Bah as chairperson, Salimatou Bah, vice chairperson, and Alhagie Corr, secretary.
Other members of the new committee are Musa Jarjusey, assistant secretary; Lamin A. Jobe, public relations officer; Fatou Marega, treasurer; Ebrima Jallow, auditor, and Kaddy Sanneh, the female representative.
The chief of Jarra West District, Yaya Jarjusey, told the youth that despite the infrastructural edge ahead of other districts, it is a herculean task on the side of its youth to not only work for a successful Nayconf but also to engage in other development exercises.
He urged them to be willing to sacrifice time and labour for the growth of the region in general.
Commentators say youth grouping in the Lower River Region has long been characterised with tactlessness and sectional motives among their representatives.
Associations here are known to be suffering from severe paralysis, especially from the deaf ear institutions within the region pay to them in terms of funding and other logistics.
Chief Yaya Jarjusey is however optimistic that there is a bright future for the numerous youth associations within the region.
He described the preparation ahead of the Nayconf as a good gear forward for them.
