MESSAGE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT
ON THE OCCASION OF COMMONWEALTH DAY 2005

JULY 22ND ANNIVERSARY

Today, we celebrate The Gambia's membership of the Commonwealth family of nations. We celebrate our shared values, our commitment of peace, democracy and human rights and our determination to co-operation with each other in a spirit of solidarity.

This year in particular we also recognize the crucial role of education plays in building strong communities, generating growth and creating opportunities for all Commonwealth people. The Commonwealth is a modern, vibrant network of people who, through their knowledge and expertise, help each other to grow. These partnerships contribute to a global dialogue in which citizens from every part of the Commonwealth benefit from each other's skills and experience.

We, in The Gambia, feel stronger knowing that through the Commonwealth,
we are connected to 52 other countries with which we share a working language, certain fundamental values; similar institutions and a joint commitment to build peace and deliver prosperity to all our people.

The Commonwealth should be a unique forum for global diplomacy which uses the power of consensus to make multilateralism work. At the Commonwealth table, all voices should be heard and no one should be left out in the cold.

We in the Gambia, like all other Commonwealth member states have greatly benefited from being part of the Commonwealth network along the years. We are more encouraging knowing that we will continue to do so in the future particularly in our drive to uplift the standards of living of all Gambians through a combination of removing ignorance, increasing the health status, food self-sufficiency and security of the people.

On this Commonwealth Day, let us all rededicate ourselves to the association and to the values and goals it represents.