Back and Next - Back and NextPresident meets US homecomers
Monday, June 2, 2008
The President yesterday received a group of diasporian homecomers at State House. The group was led by Walter Porter Snr, the Mayor of Epes, Alabama and Gambian Dr Badjie who is resident in Sweden.
Amongst the group are Valerie Larche, from York Alabama; Graham Wetherspoon a former New York policeman who now heads the 100 blacks in law-enforcement who care organisation; and Gerald Alor, a Nigerian resident in Leicester UK.
The President warmly welcomed the group and said that every diasporian African has a right to be anywhere in Africa. The President called for unity amongst Africans everywhere. “ Your roots give you confidence and when you are confident you can assert your right”, said the President, adding that he himself learnt about African history and culture as a school boy and this is what has given him the strength to attempt to make a difference.
“ The average African has been programmed to believe in the detractors of Africa and their propaganda against Africa. Anybody our enemies call a dictator is someone they cannot manipulate”. The President urged the group to have faith in their potential for the unity of Africans everywhere and the change for the better that we can bring about when united. “You can make changes. From little countries big things can happen. I have my mind set on changing things” said President Jammeh.
The Mayor spoke about Alabama and the President also reminisced about his time in Alabama when he was training as a soldier. When Mrs Valerie Larche jokingly commented that she may need to come to Gambia and seek political asylum from the USA, the President firmly replied “Gambia is your home and you don’t need political asylum to come to your home”.
Gerald Alor thanked the President and said that he was in The Gambia in 1992 and he has been amazed by how things have changed in such a short time. “Yundum to Serrekunda used to take two hours”, he pointed out. He said there is now high spirits and confidence in The Gambia and there is optimism which can be seen from the transformations taking place throughout the country.
“Liberation of African people cannot take place without a good agricultural policy. Your agricultural policy is good. Agriculture is indeed a weapon which they wield in other countries when they subsidise their farmers. A nation that cannot feed its population will go down as beggars. What you are doing in The Gambia today is a template that other countries can copy. Most of our leaders have let us down. Thank you. You are a source of inspiration for us in the diaspora. You will leave The Gambia a good legacy”, concluded Mr Alor.
Amongst the group are Valerie Larche, from York Alabama; Graham Wetherspoon a former New York policeman who now heads the 100 blacks in law-enforcement who care organisation; and Gerald Alor, a Nigerian resident in Leicester UK.
The President warmly welcomed the group and said that every diasporian African has a right to be anywhere in Africa. The President called for unity amongst Africans everywhere. “ Your roots give you confidence and when you are confident you can assert your right”, said the President, adding that he himself learnt about African history and culture as a school boy and this is what has given him the strength to attempt to make a difference.
“ The average African has been programmed to believe in the detractors of Africa and their propaganda against Africa. Anybody our enemies call a dictator is someone they cannot manipulate”. The President urged the group to have faith in their potential for the unity of Africans everywhere and the change for the better that we can bring about when united. “You can make changes. From little countries big things can happen. I have my mind set on changing things” said President Jammeh.
The Mayor spoke about Alabama and the President also reminisced about his time in Alabama when he was training as a soldier. When Mrs Valerie Larche jokingly commented that she may need to come to Gambia and seek political asylum from the USA, the President firmly replied “Gambia is your home and you don’t need political asylum to come to your home”.
Gerald Alor thanked the President and said that he was in The Gambia in 1992 and he has been amazed by how things have changed in such a short time. “Yundum to Serrekunda used to take two hours”, he pointed out. He said there is now high spirits and confidence in The Gambia and there is optimism which can be seen from the transformations taking place throughout the country.
“Liberation of African people cannot take place without a good agricultural policy. Your agricultural policy is good. Agriculture is indeed a weapon which they wield in other countries when they subsidise their farmers. A nation that cannot feed its population will go down as beggars. What you are doing in The Gambia today is a template that other countries can copy. Most of our leaders have let us down. Thank you. You are a source of inspiration for us in the diaspora. You will leave The Gambia a good legacy”, concluded Mr Alor.
Author: DO
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