Statehouse Photos Sulayman Gassama.

Earlier News Reports available at Archives

1st January 2006:

The President Alhaji Yahya Jammeh has called on all Gambians to be peace loving, committed and dedicated to the maintenance of peace, progress and prosperity in the country. In his traditional New Year Message to the nation, President Jammeh stressed the need for more positive attitudes and decent behaviour in 2006. The Gambian leader described 2005 as year of "double standards" and "a good school year" for Africans and Africans in the Diaspora.

He pointed out that only Africans can liberate themselves from abject poverty, marginalization, disrespect, starvation, violence and disease. On the home front, President Jammeh noted that despite natural disasters experienced in 2005, the year has also been marked by positive achievements ranging from successes of the under-17 football team and the graduation of 250 students from the University of the Gambia.

The President also dilated on what he called tremendous achievements accomplished by his government in 2005. He cited the campaign on corruption commonly known "Operation no Compromise" as one of the principal policies of his government in 2005. President Jammeh said that "Operation Clean the Nation programme" has also been a major achievement in 2005. He noted that the programme yielded great health benefits with the reduction of prevalence rate of malaria and other diseases in the country.

On bilateral, regional and international levels, President Jammeh said the Gambia continues to play a very active role in fostering cooperation and cementing ties with other partners. He said his government has signed several cooperation agreements with many countries designed to increase foreign investment flows and technology transfer in key areas of agriculture, communication, education, trade, health and transportation.

The Gambian leader said his government's top priority in the coming year will be geared towards poverty eradication and the realization of the Millennium Development Goals. Commenting on petroleum prospects in the Gambia, President Jammeh said government has now invited some selected companies for negotiations for the award of licenses for the six offshore blocks in the country.