The Ambassador of Senegal to The Gambia recently hosted several dignitaries at a dinner in celebrating his country's 49th Independence Anniversary, at the Sun Beach Hotel in Cape Point.
Addressing the gathering, His Excellency Mamadou Faal, the Senegalese High Commissioner to The Gambia said that Senegalese in The Gambia "As you may know, dear compatriots, this party is a unique opportunity for the citizens of a country to meet, in perfect peace of hearts and minds, to assess all the way done and draw the prospects of the nation," he said.
Commenting on the Senegalese school in the Gambia, he said, the Ecoles Sénegalaises has registered outstanding results, despite limited resources, noting that it deserves to be commended.
He said that "the results in the Baccalaureate and BFEM exams were among the best in Senegal; there are no strikes; salaries are regularly paid; and school fees are lower than those in other private schools in the Gambia or Senegal".
With regards to the management of Senegalese in the Gambia, he said, "the High Commission has done its utmost for their protection in this country, with the support of the Gambian authorities and the results are definitely there: entry free of charge; mutual help in obtaining the Alien Card while waiting for his suppression by both countries, as well as the harmonisation of healthcare costs".
"In this regard, it seems urgent to organise the meeting of the Consultative Commission, which has to validate the proposals of these sartorial meetings", he noted.
On that subject, the signature at the beginning of 2008 of an agreement of border surveillance between the military authorities of the two countries has been an important action in security related bilateral cooperation, consolidated by their Excellencies, Jammeh and Wade High Commissioner Faal, he concluded.
Speaking on behalf of Hon. Dr. Omar Touray, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Sheriff Gomez, Minister of Youth, and Sports expressed pleasure and honour for him to join His Excellency and the entire Senegalese community in The Gambia in celebrating the 49th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Senegal.
"I convey on behalf of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Sheikh Professor Alhagie Dr. Yahya A.J.J Jammeh, the Government, and people of The Gambia, heartfelt felicitations to you, distinguished High Commissioner and through you, to His Excellency Maitre Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal".
He said their presence is an ample testimony of the fruitful relations existing between the two countries.
The relationship between The Gambia and Senegal is one of brotherhood, bound together by strong historic, cultural, and ethnic affinities, which from all indications make us descendants from a common ancestry. We are simply a common people only distinguished by colonial history," Hon. Gomez said.
He described the cooperation between the two sister countries as paramount.
