The
Gambia’s Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment,
Abdou Jobe, has said by virtue of the two countries’ geographical relationship,
Senegal and The Gambia needed to set the pace and intensify the
co-relationship, so that ECOWAS would follow.
He
said the two countries’ co-relationship was defined by God and it does not
exist anywhere.
Trade
Minister made this statement while presiding over the official opening of the
8th bilateral meeting between the Senegalese Customs Administration and the
Gambia Revenue Authority, which is being held in Banjul.
Minister
Jobe expressed hope that the consultative forum would yield successful
dividends.
“I
want to make this point very clear that The Gambia and Senegal relationship is
created by Allah; all of us found this relationship and the relationship will
continue after here. Therefore, we have the moral obligation and responsibility
to ensure that we nurture the relationship. We build on the relationship so
that there will be peace and tranquility in our two countries,” the Trade
Minister advised customs experts.
He
said it was important to note that all the initiatives of ECOWAS, AU and others
found the two countries’ integration in place, adding that the integration
between The Gambia and Senegal is based on blood, and ordained by God.
“Generations have come and gone, and it is our
generation that has the responsibility to work together and we must work
together,” he further advised.
Jobe
said it is only through dialogue that they could address differences between
Senegal and The Gambia.
“So we have those special gifts from God that
we have to continue to cherish. Therefore, we will continue to encourage you
that similar success is taking place and we should not be left behind.”
He
reminded the gathering that the two administrations, and the experts’ bilateral
consultation forum that took place on 15 May in Dakar and the outcome of those
deliberations should reinforce a permanent dialogue, with a view to avoiding
misunderstanding between the two countries.
In
many cases, they are locked into problem because of misunderstanding;
therefore, regular meetings and dialogue should be maintained, Jobe added.
“We
encourage customs experts to continue with this type of dialogue, as a good
relationship between the two countries should not only based on mutual respect
and trust, but also in fulfillment of their commitment from both sides.
He
commended the Gambia Revenue Authority and the organizing committee for
ensuring that the meeting is realised successfully.
He said they need to continue the
sensitization, in which “Senegalo-Gambia secretariat comes into play”.
“We
should not harass our people, we should work for our people; therefore, we have
to respect our protocols and our national laws, but at the same time we have to
facilitate for people to be able to move from one place to another, because of
the economic benefits of enhancing smooth movement of people,” Minister Jobe
said.
