President Yahya Jammeh on Thursday received the Secretary-General and leader of the Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP), Henry Gomez, who affirmed his readiness to contribute to the development of The Gambia. The President welcomed Henry Gomez within the ranks of his party, describing the man as a genuine opposition politician, who is objective and constructive.

The President used the opportunity to warned Gambians against the mercinations of elements in the guise of democracy determined to sabotage the course of development and progress. He said such elements, are wolves in sheep clothing who are enemies of the country, bent on creating tension and hostilities.

Dr. Jammeh stressed that genuine divergence of views is an important element of a healthy democratic dispensation and a manifestation of unity in diversity.

The President welcomed Henry's initiative to establish a cleansing service outfit, stressing the significance of such a project. President Jammeh told Gomez that he is welcomed and he is ready to work with such patriotic Gambians. The President also acknowledged with appreciation Mrs Fatou Darboe-Gomez's efforts in inspiring her husband to take such a bold step.

For her part, the Vice President, Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, commended the party leader for preaching peace and called on all Gambians to keep up the country's prevailing peace .
Edward Singhateh, the Secretary of State for Forestry and the Environment, said the APRC will encourage anybody willing to associate themselves with the APRC party, while the Secretary of State for Works and Infrastructure, Bala Garba Jahumpa, said the APRC party is committed to the development of the country.

The GPDP leader Henry Gomez said the occasion provided a moment of rebirth for him. He said it was a day he had dreamt of and that he had a mission in line with African Unity and Integration. Gomez described President Jammeh as a hero whose accomplishments on the socio-economic front he acknowledged with a sense of appreciation and admiration. He said he established his party not to set on a collision path with the President or to antagonise him and as such he had never used any political platform to that effect.