On the free movement of goods and services

It should be given all the necessary support, especially where ties seem to be cold or dormant, so as to ensure that such relations take on a new phase towards building peace and stability on the African continent.

Our focus is yet again the movement of people, goods and services and even cars from one country to another.

We have been reliably informed that entering with a vehicle with Gambian registration number plate to Senegal, the driver has to be a Gambian and have valid Gambian documents before this is possible. This has to be looked into by the relevant authorities.

This, to us, is a big surprise considering the urgent need for regional integration that would allow the free movement of goods and services, people and vehicles.

The Gambia and Senegal are two countries with peoples who share the same ethnic groups and national languages, and the two governments and states have a duty to build close collaboration and contacts in the interest of their peoples.

The two states must facilitate the free movement of people, goods and services, as envisaged under ECOWAS protocols.

Our two leaders must always work to promote peace, stability and brotherhood between their countries, as this will go a long way towards ensuring stability in the sub-region.

Since whatever affects one country affects the other, they must work closely to consolidate the existing ties.

The media have an important role to play in this process of bringing the two governments and states closer together, and they must not be found wanton in this crusade.

Indeed, nurturing excellent relations, as we always highlight on these pages, should be the business of all Senegambians and nothing else.

“Marches alone won’t bring integration when human respect is disintegrating’

Barry McGuire