After the successful Banjul meeting, it was the turn of the West Coast Region (WCR) on Thursday to digest the messages contained in two books authored by the president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh.

The books entitled; ‘A million reasons to leave the Commonwealth’; and ‘How the tragic consequences of British looting and misrule in The Gambia inspired the founding of the United Nations and its drive for decolonisation in January 1943 and beyond’; explained extensively how colonial hegemony has contributed in no small measure to the underdevelopment of the nation.

Organised under the aegis of the ‘National Youth Bantaba’ TV show crew, the Brikama meeting which was held at the Governor’s Office was no different from that of Banjul, as participants were exposed to the contents of the books in an attempt to make them understand the key issues.

At the Brikama meeting, the two books were welcomed by the local authorities, with their message beares hailed for enlightening the general public on the realities that Gambians had to endure in the hands of imperialists. But the Gambian leader was the main focus, as he was praised for bringing to the attention of the general the injustice meted out on Gambians.

Speaking at the meeting, Chief Bakary Badjie of Foni Bondali opined that the books will provide more answers than questions as regard the decision by the president and his government to pull out from the Commonwealth, a then 54-member bloc that draws its membership from mainly ex-British colonies. 

He condemned as “unacceptable” the British ‘misrule’ and occupation in The Gambia that contributed to the country’s underdevelopment. “It brought nothing but backwardness,” he charged, referring to British colonialism in The Gambia.

The district head encouraged the people to grab copies of the books and not to be distracted by the West, whom he said had “looted” the country’s resources. 

The National Assembly member for Foni Bintang, Hon. Ebrima Solo Jammeh, also joined the chief in welcoming the two books, which he said could be good learning materials for the people. He mentioned the unprecedented developments brought about by the Jammeh Administration within a very short period of time, something he said, wasn’t done by the British. 

Chiefs Basiru Jarju of Kombo East, Alhaji Junkung Camara of Foni Berefet, Ajeh Janneh of Kombo South and Momodou ‘Lungs’ Jarju representing the paramount chief, all commended the president for the books, while assuring that they will disseminate their messages to their respective communities. 

They also used the meeting to acknowledge the unprecedented developments registered under President Jammeh compared to the 400 years of British occupation. The local administrators concurred that the messages are very educative and not misleading, urging the people, particularly the young ones to read the books.

Reviewing the books at the start of the meeting, a nominated National Assembly member, Hon. Seedy SK Njie, also the coordinator of the ‘National Youth Bantaba’ TV show on The Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), said the intellectual exercise of the Gambian leader is designed to enlighten the people about the British ‘misrule’ and what Gambians should learn from it. 

Also contained in the books, he informed, are the president’s landmark speech he delivered at the 68th Summit of the UN General Assembly in which he advocated for equal treatment of member states of the global body.

Hon. Njie urged the chiefs, women leaders, youth leaders, and alkalolou to organise meetings at their different levels to sensitise their people on the two books for them to better understand and digest their contents.

Njie told the meeting that the president highlighted the visit by the then president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt who denounced the poor conditions of Bathurst (now Banjul) under British colonial rule. The prevailing conditions at the city, he noted, is in sharp contrast to its current status under the leadership of President Jammeh.

 “The American president had witnessed the worst situation British colonialism could present. Everyone familiar with British-Africa agreed with Roosevelt that The Gambia was a miserable little place full of sick, unhappy people. Even friendly visitors called it “deplorable,” an “open eyesore,” or “one of the worst tropical slums in Africa and a disgrace to the Colonial Empire,” he quoted author Donald Wright on the former president Roosevelt short visit to the then Britain’s prime minister, Winston Churchill in Casablanca, January 1943. 

Another nominated National Assembly member; Hon. Babou Gaye-Sonko and Pierre Minteh, APRC national youth mobiliser, both co-coordinators of ‘National Youth Bantaba’ TV show, said The Gambia’s membership of the Commonwealth had brought nothing to the country.

The duo encouraged the people to read the books to know how the country was faring during British rule compared to the numerous developments registered in present day Gambia. 

The meeting was moderated by Tijan Janneh of GRTS.