The completed roads are part of the government’s broader infrastructure drive aimed at improving the movement of people and goods, enhancing access to communities and essential services, and creating greater opportunities for trade and livelihoods.

According to the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, the Gambian President would inaugurate 4.5 kilometres of the Gunjur-Beach Side Road and 4.5 kilometres of the Sanyang-Beach Side Road on Saturday, 29 August and 1st September 2026 respectively.

The Ministry also announced that the President will inaugurate the 50 kilometres Urban Roads Project, Lot 2, P6, P9 and P20 on 5 September 2026.

The Ministry further revealed that President Barrow would inaugurate 10 kilometres of the Farato-Bojang Kunda-Bafuloto-Makumbaya-Lamin Babylon Road project on 8 September 2026.

 According to the Ministry, the Gambian Leader will also inaugurate 50 kilometres of Urban Roads Project, Lot 1, P10, P16 and P19 on 12 September 2026.

The President will also inaugurate 4.5 kilometres of Tabokoto-Abuko-Banjulinding Road on 15 September 2026.

In the West Coast Region, the Gunjur and Sanyang beachside roads are expected to support tourism and fisheries, two key sectors for coastal communities. Local leaders in the area have previously complained about poor road conditions that made it difficult to transport fish and agricultural produce, especially during the rainy season.

The 10km Farato-Bojang Kunda-Bafuloto-Makumbaya-Lamin Babylon corridor connects several rapidly growing settlements that have experienced increased population pressure in recent years.

Residents and transport unions have cited frequent vehicle breakdowns and accidents on the route due to potholes and narrow passages.

In the Greater Banjul Area, the 50KM Urban Roads Project Lots 1 and 2 cover key feeder roads designated as P6, P9, P10, P16, P19 and P20. These roads serve dense residential and commercial areas and are expected to improve urban mobility. The Tabokoto-Abuko-Banjulinding road will also link communities on the outskirts of the capital to the main highway network.

The inaugurations come as the government continues to prioritise infrastructure as a driver of inclusive growth. Over the last five years, The Gambia has undertaken several donor-funded and government-funded road projects aimed at upgrading both urban and rural networks.

Darboe also outlined proposals to restructure government ministries, suggesting that some be downgraded into directorates under larger ministries. He cited the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education as an example, arguing that such a move would streamline operations and cut costs.  

“These reforms are necessary to cut waste and redirect resources to areas that directly benefit Gambians,” Darboe said, emphasising that a leaner government would improve efficiency and accountability.  

His remarks come amid growing public debate over the size of government and the cost of governance. Supporters view the proposals as a step towards prudent financial management, while critics warn that merging ministries could undermine focus on critical sectors such as education.  

Darboe’s message forms part of his wider campaign agenda, which centres on institutional reform and responsible economic stewardship.

This discovery marks the first case of its kind in The Gambia, raising alarm over the potential establishment of clandestine laboratories for synthetic drug production. Officials say the seizure underscores the evolving nature of drugtrafficking threats in the region.

DLEAG stressed that the operation demonstrates its determination not only to intercept the movement of illicit drugs into the country but also to prevent attempts to establish local production facilities.

The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue. Authorities are pursuing all necessary measures to identify and dismantle networks or individuals connected to the operation.

In a statement, DLEAG described the arrest as a milestone in The Gambia’s ongoing war against drugs, sending a clear message that traffickers and manufacturers will find no safe haven in the country.

The Agency commended its officers for their vigilance, professionalism and commitment to safeguarding the public from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and trafficking. It further urged citizens to remain alert and provide credible information that can assist lawenforcement officers in protecting communities, particularly young people, from the harmful effects of drugs.

The exercise seeks to review and validate draft national standards and curricula for marine-related courses, while providing stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute technical expertise to the development process.

The organisers said the initiative is also intended to ensure that the standards are nationally recognised, compliant with International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements and responsive to the needs of the maritime industry and labour market.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chairperson of the Crab Island TVET Foundation, Hon. Ousman Sillah, described the initiative as “historic”, noting that it represents the first collaboration of its scope between Crab Island, the Gambia Maritime Administration (GMA) and NAQAA to develop national standards and curricula for marine-related training.

He said the partnership would bring together regulation, education and industry expertise to shape the future of maritime training in The Gambia.

According to him, the initiative builds on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed six months ago, on February 27, 2026, between Crab Island TVET Foundation and GMA as part of a public-private partnership aimed at developing relevant skills for the maritime and blue economy sectors.

Mr Sillah explained that an Action Plan and Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) were subsequently established to guide the partnership. The committee has already conducted an inspection of the Crab Island TVET Centre to assess its facilities and identify areas requiring upgrades and equipment.

Chairperson Sillah also said the JIC is mandated to support programme development, regulatory alignment, trainer capacity building, facility upgrades, learner recruitment and certification, industry engagement and work-based learning.

Representing the Director General of GMA, Wandifa Saidy Leigh said maritime training was critical to The Gambia’s economic and social development, given the country’s dependence on port operations, coastal and inland water transport, fisheries, tourism and emerging blue economy activities.

He stressed the need for affordable and locally accessible maritime training that complies with international standards and enhances employment opportunities and career mobility for Gambians.

Leigh noted that increasing vessel traffic, port modernisation, digitalisation and the need for stronger environmental safeguards require updated skills and internationally aligned training.

He said the curriculum should adequately prepare trainees in areas including port operations and logistics, marine engineering and vessel maintenance, maritime safety and security, environmental protection, surveying, inspection and regulatory compliance, as well as emerging technologies and digital maritime systems.

Meanwhile, Alpha M.K. Lowe, representing NAQAA’s CEO, Dr Momodou Lamin Tarro, said the three-day workshop would provide an opportunity to critically examine the materials developed for the marine sector to determine their relevance, coherence and competency-based nature.

He said NAQAA’s technical leadership in the process would help ensure that the proposed standards and curricula meet the required quality and regulatory benchmarks.

Stakeholders are expected to use the three-day deliberations to refine the proposed standards and curricula and lay the foundation for a stronger, nationally recognised maritime training system capable of supporting The Gambia’s blue economy ambitions.

Mr Faal, who serves as a visiting professor in practice at the London School of Economics and was appointed OBE for services to international development, has leveraged his network and expertise to bring this opportunity to The Gambia.

Gibril Faal, in a statement to The Point newspaper, highlighted the significance of  creating such opportunities for Gambian students to learn Russian, stating that it is more than learning the language but also about building a bridge to world-class education and professional networks.

“With over the years seeing an increase in the number of Gambian students pursuing higher education in Russia, this course allows participants to gain foundational knowledge before embarking on their educational journeys abroad,” he stated.

He further explained that the course is supported by key Russian and Gambian institutions like  The Russkiy Mir Foundation, established to promote the Russian language and culture globally, and Rossotrudnichestvo, the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation, also providing crucial backing.

"We are deepening this collaboration and hope this initiative paves the way for the first Russian House to be opened in The Gambia," he said, adding: "The CIIC in Russia has been our main partner, and without their support we would not have come this far."

He  revealed that the University of The Gambia through the Gambia government has also partnered on the project and  plans are already underway to extend the collaboration beyond  two weeks, offering students continued learning opportunities.

Faal stated that the course has already demonstrated impressive results in just three days as students have learned to read the Cyrillic alphabet, write their names in Russian, and read certain phrases while the classes are proceeding well, and the interest to learn more keeps growing every day.

He concluded that the initiative builds on efforts to introduce Russian language courses into Gambian educational programs, with discussions previously held with the University of The Gambia  thus  marking  a new chapter in educational cooperation between The Gambia and Russia while creating pathways for students eager to explore academic opportunities abroad.

The initiative of the Russian language course has been introduced just in time the Russian Federation has officially opened its embassy in The Gambia, a development both governments and peoples believe will deepen diplomatic engagement and enhance social and economic cooperation between the two nations.

“On a personal note, me, Essa Mbye Faal, I love Ba Ousainou Darboe,” he said, explaining that they have maintained a close relationship over the years.

“He calls me his nephew, I call him uncle,” Faal said, adding that Darboe had a good relationship with his parents and remains his senior at the bar.

However, Faal stressed that personal respect does not mean political agreement.

“It doesn’t mean that I agree with him on everything,” he said, noting that the two also have differences on legal issues.

Faal said that, at present, there is no agreement at apex on the coalition APP Sobeya is trying to build, while acknowledging that his presence at the UDP event had attracted political interpretations.

He said he was glad to have attended the event, describing it as a good display of Gambian culture and a sign that people from different political backgrounds could still interact respectfully.

“We can belong to different parties but what matters is Gambia,” Faal said.

He acknowledged that the opposition is facing difficult decisions over how to reorganise, realign and decide which political formations to join ahead of the December election.

For Faal, the biggest mistake being made by the opposition is fragmentation and attempts to destroy one another in the pursuit of political power.

He warned against what he describes as Machiavellian leadership and pursuing the presidency at all costs, arguing that Gambia belongs to everyone.

With opposition realignment still uncertain, Faal said the APP Sobeya would ultimately make decisions based on what it believes is best for The Gambia.

We are deeply disturbed to see that with all the challenges Gambia is facing, leaders whose voices could make a difference choose to fan the flames of ethnic division instead.

Talib Ahmed Bensouda is a Gambian, born and raised in The Gambia, from parents who were also born and raised in The Gambia. He has twice been elected as the country's second-highest official and continues to fly the Gambian flag high through his leadership, recognized locally, regionally, and internationally. His grandfather is Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, The Gambia's first President. These are the facts that some choose to ignore because it suits their divisive agenda.

To brand such a man a "foreigner" is a deliberate falsehood. If his surname or family ties make him less Gambian, then a significant portion of Gambian families would fail the same test. This is a reckless standard that threatens national unity.

Bigotry does not become acceptable because the target is a political opponent.

We reaffirm our leader's pledge to make tribalism a prosecutable criminal offense upon election to the presidency.

Words that divide and fuel hatred must carry consequences.

Imam Darou Sanyang is urged to withdraw his statements. Challenge Talib Bensouda on policy and vision, never on ancestry or citizenship.

Our diversity is our strength. We are one nation and by the will of God, we will remain one nation and one people.

Professor Barry, who did the presentation on August 17, was warmly received by Mr Zhang Hongsen, chairman of the China Writers Association.

The museum's Deputy Director conferred the Collection Certificate to Prof. Barry, confirming that the volumes have entered the permanent collection rather than being received as informal gifts.

This comes as a historic milestone in the Writers' Association of The Gambia's endeavour to promote Gambian literature, especially at the international stage, as it marks the first structured presentation of Gambian literature to a Chinese national literary institution.

Professor Barry highlighted and lauded the fact that Gambian books would now be "held in the same institution that preserves the manuscripts of Ba Jin, Bing Xin and Ding Ling".

"That matters less as an honour than as a precedent. It tells us that Gambian writing can be catalogued, researched and read far beyond our borders, and it tells us what we still have to build at home," he said.

Professor Barry said every year, a lot of Gambian literary materials that can never be replaced are lost, underscoring that a national literature is not only what is written but what is kept.

With the visit being part of a study mission, the WAG now intends to localise what has been seen in China in terms of literary preservation, beginning with a digital Gambian Writers' Archive to gather manuscripts, correspondences, photographs, recordings and first editions while they remain recoverable.

Discussions with the China Writers' Association delved into a Gambia-China translation programme, reciprocal residencies, festivals and book fair participations, joint anthologies and technical cooperation on literary archiving, among others.

Meanwhile, the 53 books, which ranged from poetry, play, history, biography, to children's literature, language, folklore and others, were donated by prominent Gambian authors and a publishing establishment.

They included Dr Florence Mahoney, Patience Sonko-Godwin, Hassoum Ceesay, Nana Grey Johnson, Fodeh Baldeh (Fulladu Publishers), Dr Seedy Drammeh, Sukai Mbai Bojang, Juka Fatu Jabang, Momodou Ndow, Aisha Jawara, Global Hands Publishing, and Prof. Barry.