NBR celebrates May Day Mass Sport in style

Workers in the North Bank Region (NBR) at the weekend converged at the Regional Education Centre (RED) in Kerewan to celebrate Workers Day which falls on the first day of May every year and celebrated across the world in dramatic fashions.

The celebration started with a march-past of workers from the village bantaba to the Regional Education Directorate backed by the display of the Gambia National Army band.

The guest speaker on the occasion was Mam Samba Joof, Director of Agency for the Development of Women and Children (ADWAC), who delivered a speech on behalf of the workers in the region.

Mr Joof gave a brief history about the day and also challenged employees in NBR to desist from unpleasant attitudes such as going to work late, underperformance, unnecessary absence from work among other malpractices.

Joof also spoke on the need for institutions in NBR to consider increasing the salaries of their workers as well as to create conducive working environment for them.

He used the occasion to advise workers in the area to desist from sexual harassment at workplaces, which he noted as “a challenge that needs to stop immediately”.

The CEO of Kerewan Area Council, Tamba Kinteh, challenged workers in NBR to plan well for the next May Day celebration. 

While outlining the importance of May Day celebration, Mr Kinteh said: “May Day is a moment of reflection on the plight of workers all over the world and I can assure workers in North Bank Region that Government will do all it can to create a good working environment for her workers.” 

Lamin S. Jawara, chairman of the local organising committee who doubles as the Regional Sports chairman for NBR, said the May Day celebration is in line with the decentralization process. 

“This day provides forum for workers in NBR to come together and enjoy each other’s company,” he says. “It will also develop and cement cordial working relationships among the workforce within NBR.”

The executive secretary of the National Sports Council, Mamudou Max Jallow, who represented the Minister of Youth and Sports at the celebration, called on the youths of NBR to go back to the land and farm. 

The vote of thanks was delivered by the Regional Sports Assistant for NBR Ebrima Bah whilst Lamin K. Saidy, NBR Regional Youth coordinator, chaired the ceremony.

As part of the celebration, sporting activity was organised between various institutions in the region.

The Gambia National Army of Farafenni camp came out first after scoring 178 points followed by the NGOs in second place after bagging a total of 113 points, while Kerewan Health Centre secured third place with 48 points.

Local Government finished in fourth place on 90 points and Interior found themselves rooted at the bottom of the table on 47 points.