Kanifing
Municipality Youth Committee, (KMYC) organised a constituency stakeholder
dialogue in Bakau, discussing some of the important roles young people must
tap-in for national development in new Gambia on Sunday.
The
dialogue, held at the Bakau Information Centre, also discussed the mandate and
responsibilities of KMYC/NYC, youth irregular migration, youth drug and alcohol
abuse and post-election violence and reconciliation.
Speaking
to reporters on the sidelines, Amie Mbaye Jammeh, constituency chairperson of
KMYC, talked at length on the importance of young people coming together and
sharing ideas on how best to move the new Gambia forward.
She
called for unison and reconciliation, especially among the people of Bakau,
reiterating the common saying that it is only through unity one can achieve his
or her goals.
“I
urge my people to join hands and together we can build the new Gambia,” she
said.
The
public relations officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ousman
Saidybah, who spoke briefly on drug abuse among young people, warned people
against turning blind eye to the menace.
“We
are all affected either directly or indirectly. There is nobody in this Gambia
that will say ‘I am not affected by it’,” he stressed.
Mr
Saidybah said it is sad today, especially in The Gambia, as one cannot discuss
any issue regarding young people without correlating it with drugs.
Therefore,
he said, tackling the menace is a huge task and calls for concerted efforts to
eradicate it.
The
National Assembly member for Bakau, Mr Assan Touray, said he was elated to be a
part of discussions of this nature.
Honorable
Touray said young people are the movers and shakers of The Gambia’s future:
“Our relationship with young people must be jealously guarded to register
success in them and for a better Gambia for all“.
Babucarr
kebbeh, the KMYC chairperson, spoke about his council’s plan for young people
in the new Gambia, while Pa Demba Njie gave the vote of thanks.
The
convergence was also attended by Mr Abdou Jallow, the Area Councilor for Baku,
Alkalo Luntang Jaiteh, a cross section of young people and Bakau residents.
