News and Events

SEATTLE GAMBIA ASSOCIATION DONATES TO HIV CAUSE IN THE GAMBIA

Seattle – Gambian children gathered on Saturday February 17^th, 2007 to celebrate Gambia’s 42^nd Independence Anniversary. As an annual tradition started last year, Gambians in Seattle prepare their children to take center stage in celebrating this historic day. The Children represents members of government, ranging from the President & First Lady; Vice President, Members of The Cabinet, Governors, Chiefs and other high profile dignitaries of the sitting government.

The program is geared to educate Gambian Children in Seattle about the significant of this Independence Day. The President and the Vice President prepares speeches which they delivered to the well attended gathering. The Children amazingly has shown so much interest in this event that sometimes it becomes a challenge to allocate positions to all the children.

The most amazing thing about the event is the enthusiasm and excitement displayed by both the children and their parents in seeing how the young ones represent high profile government positions. As mentioned earlier, below we produce the Speech by the President Momodou Lamin Janneh and Vice President Amie Mbye.

Speech by Momodou L. Janneh- President of the Gambia

Madam Vice President; Honorable Speaker, Members of Cabinet, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Governors, Chiefs, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to welcome you all to the 42^nd Independence Celebration of the Republic of The Gambia.

Today marks yet another historic day in the history of our beloved nation, The Gambia. We gather here every year to celebrate our freedom from colonialism.

This day is significant because it was the day Gambians were finally free to govern themselves in over hundred years. It is significant because every nation and its citizens have the right to decide how to govern its own nation and people.

It is because of this day that we are able to elect our own leaders without foreign involvement.

It is because of this day that our women are sitting here with us today deciding the fate of our nation.

It is because of this independent day that our children are able to go to the school of their choice.

It is because of this day that Gambians are proud to call our nation a sovereign nation with powers to be recognized and respected in the world.

Therefore, join me today in celebrating this great historic moment in our history. Thank you all for being here and May God bless you and for The Gambia ever true…

Speech by Vice President Amie Mbye Republic of the Gambia

Mr. President and My Fellow Gambians, my name is Amie Mbye; I’m a Six Grader at Martha Lake Elementary School and a daughter to Musa and Isatou Mbye. I was born in The Gambia and migrated to the United States of America at the age of two.
It gives me great pleasure and honor to introduce 2007 Gambian Independence Day. The Gambia gained her Independence from the British on February 18, 1965 through the patriotic action of some Gambians.

Among them were: Sir Fariman Singhateh; Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, who was the first elected President of the Gambia. There are also various other people that I can’t dual on right now but their efforts will never be forgotten by Gambians. The Gambia is celebrating 42nd
independent day under the leadership of Alhagie Yayah Jammeh. His message is clear to us and their efforts will never be forgotten by Gambians.

To better play our roles in the development of the Gambia, we are to better understand where Gambia stands in the world development circuit today. The Gambia has a population of approximately 1.6 million people and a quarter of these people are foreign nationals who migrated to Gambia in order to have a better life. The main source of income for the average Gambian is farming and fishery with the help of conventional tools. This makes the average Gambian to live below poverty level. The main source of revenue for the government is through tourism, farming, fishery, and the port of The Gambia. To better play our roles in the development of the Gambia, we are to better understand where Gambia stands in the world development circuit today

The Gambia has a population of approximately 1.6 million people and a quarter of these people are foreign nationals who migrated to Gambia in order to have a better life. The main source of income for the average Gambian is farming and fishery with the help of conventional tools. This makes the average Gambian to live below poverty level. The main source of revenue for the government is through tourism, farming, fishery, and the port of The Gambia.

Having these in mind, I am here to appeal to all of you to help in a course for the development of this needy developing country. We Gambians have to realize that our way to development is not easy. Many of you are struggling along that difficult way and many have fallen away when they realized that they have to give up ego in order to have happiness.

The Gambians at home and abroad are without doubt very intelligent people, their efforts in nation building is seen all over. The Seattle Gambia Association is a typical example. The Seattle Gambia Association is one of the most recognized associations abroad today.

Their efforts have over the years been geared toward the funding of our healthcare system; they also promote the efforts underway in the prevention and education of people against HIV infection.

The devastation of this horrible disease is gripping our Gambian population and without our efforts we will be crying for our beloved country. Their efforts have recently donated some money to the National AIDS Control Program of The Gambia. They have over the years donated truck loads of medical supplies to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital. They have sponsored and offered scholarships to a number of deserving students in their educational goals.

They have raised funds for, assisted families and individuals among us, mixed with tragedies. I can dwell on the efforts of this great association without limit all night.

The efforts, dedication and sacrifices of its members is without doubt an example for us all to emulate. I am saying this with regards to the Seattle Gambian public. Your efforts on the recent Tobaski party are seen by all.

I can’t continue to dwell on your efforts without my sincere regards to the Great Gambian Musician: Jaliba Kuyateh, who with his dedication and musical talents we are able to make a lot of fundraising possible. It is without a doubt that Gambians are making a difference around the World. You are true and patriotic citizens because I witness today even as a young child that your hearts and minds are for the development of your beloved country.

I therefore conclude by calling upon all in taking responsibilities in the development of this small resource less country.