President Yahya Jammeh has expressed optimism about the attainment of the objectives of the African-Latin American cooperation.

The President made these remarks yesterday at the State House in Banjul, during a courtesy call by a 40-member Venezuelan delegation, who arrived in the country on a working visit.

Welcoming the visiting delegation, comprising officials and experts in the fields of health, education, science and technology, agriculture, and arts and culture, President Jammeh expressed admiration for the courage and commitment of his Venezuelan counterpart, President Hugo Chavez, to building a bridge between Africa and Latin America, through cooperation. The Gambian leader assured the delegation of his confidence in cementing the cooperation between The Gambia and Venezuela, saying that "we will build the bridge even if the sky falls. We are revolutionaries".

The President then made a recollection of the realities of history, saying that Africa, Asia and Latin America are "victims of massive exploitation by the West". However, he said the 21st Century presents these continents with the opportunity to ensure that their peoples benefit from their resources.

He then enlightened the delegation about his philosophy on the world as divided into three days (yesterday, today and tomorrow). He told the gathering that everything about human activity revolves around these three days. He then broke down this concept, saying that yesterday, "our people were humiliated and embarrassed. Our people were captured and sold to that part of the world. Gambians and other Africans were packed like sardines onto the dark dungeons of cargo slave ships where even their dogs were better treated than the African slaves."

The President also blamed the colonialists for building, what he described as an "artificial barrier" between Latin Americans and their ancestral home. Despite this divide, President Jammeh reaffirmed their commitment to "build a bridge of dignity and love" between Africa and Latin America. "We have more similarities than differences," the Gambian leader emphasised.

He then elaborated on the importance of education, health and agriculture, describing these sectors of the economy as indispensable in any country's development, irrespective of its endowment. He stressed the importance of the areas of cooperation between Banjul and Caracas, including education, health and agriculture, which are indeed interdependent.

He condemned ignorance for being responsible for Africa's problems. "Ignorance is the cause of various fightings in Africa that you have been hearing. Ignorance is our worst enemy," he told the gathering.
He then asserted that politics cannot extinguish this ignorance, maintaining that education is the way forward.

President Jammeh thanked President Chavez, whom he considers as his brother, for the opportunity to build the bridge. He implored the members of the delegation to feel at home. He advised officials and experts of the two countries not to shy away from pointing at defects in the cooperation and then urged the delegation to modify the exchange programme to enable both men and women to participate in agriculture.
The President used the opportunity to exhort the Gambian public to cooperate with members of the delegation to take pictures during their stay in the country to enable them portray the good image of The Gambia when they return home.

Ousman Jammeh, Secretary-General and Head of Civil Service, who doubles as the Secretary of State for Petroleum, Energy and Natural Resources, confirmed the commitment of President Chavez and President Jammeh to implement and cement the cooperation between the two countries. Secretary of State Ousman Jammeh observed that the foundation has been laid by the leaders of the two countries, noting that it therefore behoves upon the peoples to make sure that the expectations of the two leaders are achieved.

Dr Tamsir Mbowe, Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, commended members of the delegation for their compassion for Gambians, narrating that the Venezuelan medical experts have demonstrated this during operations at the RVTH's theatres. Health and Social Welfare Secretary of State Mbowe said this runs to cement the bridge between the two countries and their peoples.

Kanja Sanneh, Secretary of State for Agriculture, briefed the President on the successful activities they had with their Venezuelan counterparts, including a tour of agricultural projects and programmes at both the North and South Banks of the country.
Gladys Maggi, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology of Venezuela, thanked the Gambian people for their warm reception and hospitality. Deputy Minister Maggi disclosed that they have signed agreements (including human resource, biotechnology, food production) to set the cooperation rolling.

Tatiana Pugh, Deputy Agriculture Minister of Venezuela, acknowledged that Gambians and Venezuelans are "one people. Our root is here. We are at home. We know that we are at home," she said.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Pugh disclosed that they are ready to implement both short and long-term projects to achieve the objectives of the cooperation between the two countries as envisaged by the two visionary leaders.

Dr Saidou Jallow, Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, who accompanied the delegation to the State House, chaired the ceremony.

Lucky Dube's burial
In a seperate engagement, Alhaji Mass Axie Gye, Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, handed over a giant picture of the slain reggae legend Lucky Dube and pcitures on his burial, to President Jammeh from the deceased's family in South Africa.
Secretary of State Gye, who was the special envoy of President Jammeh to the state funeral and the burial ceremony of the late African hero at Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, told journalists that President Jammeh was among few African leaders who have sent condolence through the South African government on the death of Lucky Dube.