The
National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) on Tuesday commenced an 11-day
national dialogue on peace and reconciliation meeting at the ChildFund lodge in
Bwiam.
The
dialogue brought together Alkalolus in Foni Kansala district, the five chiefs
in Foni, councilors, youth leaders and council of elders within Foni Kansala
District with the theme: “promoting peace and unity through dialogue and
tolerance.”
The
national dialogue on peace and reconciliation will cover 30 communities within
Foni Kansala district in the West Coast Region.
The
Governor of West Coast Region, Ebrima Mballow, in his remarks, urged the people
of Foni to embrace each other and preach peace, observing that all Gambians are
interrelated.
Governor
Mballow expressed sadness with the unfortunate incident that happened in
Kanilai that left one person dead.
He
described the NCCE’s national dialogue on peace and reconciliation meeting in
Foni Kansala district as timely.
He
further described peace as everything, saying it was only through peace that
meaningful development could take place.
Governor
Mballow pointed out those countries that were highly developed but were now
characterised by lawlessness and are ravaged by war and totally destroyed.
He
informed Foni people that it was their shared responsibility to ensure that
peace and stability prevail within Foni.
He
urged the people of Foni to give national development a priority and accept the
fact that leaders come and go, but the country and her people remains.
He
commended NCCE for organising the meeting.
The
NCCE Chairman, Alh. Sering Faye, in his opening statement, thanked the people
of Foni for putting the country first by leaving their engagements to attend
such an important meeting.
“This
shows how committed you are in ensuring that peace and stability prevail in
your district, constituency, wards, community levels and the region in
general,” Faye added.
The
NCCE as an government institution is mandated to enlighten the citizens on
their rights and duties to cultivate an environment of democratic continuity in
The Gambia, he noted.
Hon.
Musa Amul Nyassi, National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala, said they are
ready to work with the new government for the development of the district and
the nation as a whole.
He
stated that Allah destined the change and they have accepted it and urged people
to do away with things that could incite violence, saying if a conflict erupts
no one knows where it would end up.
He
also urged people to accept what Allah has destined as well as end the
differences and work together for the peace and development of the nation.
Biran
Camara, Chief of Foni Kansala District urged everyone to accept what the
Almighty has destined, pointing out that The Gambia is bigger than them.
