The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Babucarr Camara
21 June 2011
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has presented five motor-cycles to the youth and sports coordinators in the five regions (West Coast Region, Lower River Region, North Bank Region, Central River Region and Upper River Region). The motorbikes will be used in their duties of overseeing their regional youth farms.
The move came in the wake of his Excellency the President Sheikh Professor Dr. Alhaji Yahya AJJ Jammeh’s call for the people to go back to the land. The Youth and Sports Ministry responded by acquiring farms in the five regions. Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at the Independence Stadium, Alieu K Jammeh, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports said the motorbikes will be used to monitor the activities of the five district farms identified by his Ministry. PS Jammeh also tasked the beneficiaries to make good use of the motorbikes, for them to serve their purpose.
Jammeh revealed that the Gambian leader donated seven tractors and 400 bags of fertilizers to his ministry, which have already been distributed to the regions. “His Excellency the president gave us seven tractors to use at our farms and last week he also gave us 400 bags of fertilizers which we already distributed to the regions. He also gave us one motorbike. So we will use the opportunity to thank our president for the kind gestures and also for setting the pace and we are hopeful that when the rains are good, we will expect a good harvest.”
The Youth and Sports permanent secretary also revealed that the West Coast Region Area Council has donated 40 bags of fertilizers that will cater for the farms at the region.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Adama Sabally youth coordinator of Upper River Region thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the motorbikes and has assured the authorities that they will make best use of them. “I also want to thank the president (Sheikh Professor Dr. Alhaji Yahya AJJ Jammeh) for giving us the tractors and on behalf of my colleagues; we know that this motorbikes will go a long way in helping us in the monitoring of the youth farms,” Sabally added.
For his part, the honourable minister of Youth and Sports, Sheriff Gomez echoed the words of his permanent secretary and joined him to thank the Gambian leader for his benevolent gesture. He said during the tour of the regions by his ministry, some of the main issues highlighted were farming implements, fertilizer and seeds. Minister Gomez added that with the motorbikes, his ministry is now expecting 100% commitment from the youth coordinators. “We thanked the president his Excellency Sheikh Professor Dr.
Alhagie Yahya AJJ Jammeh for his benevolence and pragmatic leadership, for giving us seven tractors and most recently 400 bags of fertilizers which were his personal fertilizers and specifically meant for his own farms, but he said here they are, take it and use it at your youth farms because I understand these are critical needs of the farms. So on behalf of all the youths of the Gambia, not only the farmers but all the youths, I say thank you Mr President.” The honourable minister also challenged the youth farmers to live up to expectation in performing their duties as the youth coordinators of their regions.
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Continued here:
Gambia: Youth and Sports Ministry Presents Bikes to Regions