Barrow's Speech: Preserving the Nation, Safeguarding the State, and ‘Securing Our Resources’

By Sheriff Saidykhan

 President Adama Barrow called for the preservation of the nation, safeguarding the state and securing the country's resources.

During his speech marking the country's 59th Independence day celebration on Sunday, Barrow said: “Preserving the nation, for what it is worth, requires us to cherish and safeguard our identity, history, culture, social structures, relationships and everything else that distinguishes us as a people. Embedded in these traits are our shared values and ways of co-existing in peace and harmony as Gambians, hence we must make sure that they are not corrupted to give way to indecency.

To succeed in this national endeavour, the government we choose to manage our affairs, the Constitution and Laws that regulate behaviour, the institutions that provide services and the territorial boundaries that define our land surface must be at the heart of whatever we do. Without this, our resources would be wasted, which we must collectively resolve to prevent,” he said. 

The Independence day celebration was attended by government dignitaries, foreign delegates, civil society organisations and students at the McCarthy Square in Banjul. 

He said economic development lies at the heart of his government's agenda. 

“At the core of our development is the economy, which lies at the centre of three important features; namely: our resources - human and material; our productivity in scope and intensity; and thirdly, our level of creativity to initiate positive change, execute appropriate action, and utilise goods and services appropriately and maximally. These cannot be attained in any country without the active and collective engagement of its people,” he remarked. 

President Adama Barrow said his administration has registered significant strides over the past years saying “We have successfully developed massive infrastructure to the point that there are formidable road links in every region of the country. The agriculture sector is now booming, following the bumper harvest recorded this year. Tourism is peaking again, and energy generation stands at a level never recorded before in the history of The Gambia.

The expansion in education and health services is prominent, and my government continues to receive positive feedback in all areas of development,” he boasted. 

He lauded the National Dialoque Meeting with opposition parties. President Barrow  further declared the initiative to be an annual event in the country. 

“The recent consultative activities with the political leaders and National Dialogue were both received with approval and were successful.

The response and participation of the political leaders, civil society organisations, and the public were healthy and constructive.

I thank the participants and organisers alike for this accomplishment and urge that we continue the process with the same good spirit and good will. I thus endorse the National Dialogue initiative to be an annual event,” he said.