The President, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh on Wednesday awarded over one million dalasis, being consolation prizes for 17 finalists of the 22nd July Anthem competition.

Speaking at the occasion, the President, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, thanked the judges, the police band and GRTS for their valuable participation. He said this competition will not be the last because more are coming up including Gambian writers, to compute by writing a book that will recapitulate all the development projects implemented by his government, from 1994 to date.

The President observed that the 22nd July Anthem competition has strengthened his faith on Gambians. "Some people suggested to contract it to musicians, writers and some even say we contract it to outsiders," he disclosed.

The President said he told them that "if we give the contract to outsiders it means that Gambians are not talented." He informed them to make it an open competition so that anyone can compete, and expressed his amazement with the performance of the competitors.

President Jammeh said The Gambia has great potentials when it comes to writing and science. He noted that he has so much confidence in this country and that this competition has given him fate that we can achieve most of the objectives even before 2020.

He also urged Gambians especially youths to venture into fishing, carpentry and other skilled jobs.

The Vice President Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy congratulated the panel of judges and all those who participated in the competition on a job well done. She expressed her happiness over the fact that the elders like Gabriel J. Roberts, Nana Grey Johnson and others who are great writers, were involved to inspire the young ones.

Speaking earlier on behalf of the awardees, Mr. Gabriel J. Roberts, thanked President Jammeh for the gesture. Mr. Roberts further expressed their loyalty and continuous support to the President.

Ms. Janet Badjan, speaking on behalf of the panel of judges, noted that it is only in The Gambia that something like this could happen. She thanked the President and the panel of judges, who received a token of undisclosed amount of money from His Excellency the President.

Abdoulie Every Mbye was presented with a four-wheel Cherry car and a cash amount of ten thousand dalasis for fuel from the Gambian leader.

By Alhagi Ceesay