Barrow urges Gambians to be proactive, take appropriate strategies

23 Mai 2020

Banjul, Gambia, May 23(Infosplusgabon) - President Adama Barrow has urged Gambians to be proactive and realistic enough to squarely redefine their goals and devise appropriate strategies.

Addressing the Gambian nation during celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr festival on Saturday, he said all citizens should "pull together as a nation, stay focussed and recommit to the principles of selfless service and good citizenship.”

“Each country has now learnt the lesson that, in situations of global pandemics or calamities, attention must be focussed on continual policy review, flexibility and fiscal discipline.

“Most importantly, for both social and economic reasons, innovation and adaptation must be linked for the survival of the people. This is where creativity and positive use of our energy come into play. We have to search for alternatives to feed ourselves, vary the way we work and own our development,” he said.

President Barrow said that Gambians cannot determine how long it will take to restore normalcy and carry on with their usual socioeconomic and political engagements, stressing, "We need to plan and prepare for life after COVID-19."

He revealed that at the regional level, leaders are working through ECOWAS to strengthen regional strategies to combat the virus.

“At the unprecedented Virtual Heads of State and Government Summit held in April 2020, my brother and colleague, President Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was selected as Champion for the ECOWAS fight against COVID-19. This highlights the seriousness that the region attaches to protecting our people,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the coincidence of Ramadan with the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to disrupt and devastate lives and livelihoods, altered religious practice this year. It is regrettable that millions of people have contracted the virus, and hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost already,” the president observed.

He added: “This is one of the saddest periods in our history, as Muslims had to observe the holy month with restrictions that deprived them of the freedom to move freely or congregate in their places of worship, including the holy sites in Mecca and Medina.

“It is obvious that protecting and saving lives is one of the key teachings of Islam. With mixed feelings, therefore, I congratulate all Muslims on the solemn occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.”

President Barrow stated that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases was rising minimally in the country, calling on Gambians to continue to be vigilant.

“I admit that the health challenges confronting us are enormous, but be assured that our health sector is on full alert to deal with any mass outbreak of COVID-19. It is evident that no matter what the scale of the pandemic turns out to be, it will adversely affect our lives and livelihoods.

“Taking cue from other countries, it is vital that we take the coronavirus seriously, comply with all necessary measures in our homes, workplaces and public places to prevent and contain its spread,” he said.

President Barrow called on the youth to realise that a nation can prosper only if they are able to feed themselves, create livelihood skills and optimise the use of technology.

“We have to re-prioritise our development agenda by enhancing good governance and be held accountable for our institutional responsibilities," he emphasized.

As the country looks forward to the rainy season, he called on Gambians to use the opportunity to actively engage in agriculture.

He disclosed that this year, his government has ensured that fertilizer is available on time and  as a result, he encouraged all farmers to consult with the personnel of the Ministry of Agriculture for advice.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/OKL/GABON2020

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