President Yahya Jammeh returned home, recently, after a two day's trip to the Republic of Guinea (Conakry) in honour of an invitation extended to him by his Guinean counterpart, Lansana Conteh, to grace celebrations marking that country's 50th independence celebrations. The Gambian leader was received at the foot of the aircraft, on arrival at the Banjul International Airport, by the vice-president, Aja Dr Isatou Njie Saidy; the chief justice, Abdoul Karim Savage, secretaries of state and security chiefs.

Also at the airport to welcome the president were a cross section of the community, members of the diplomatic and consular corps and a host of other high profile dignitaries.

After the usual formal airport ceremonies, President Jammeh told a group of waiting pressmen that he was in Guinea in honour of an invitation by "a strategically important development partner in the sub-region." Describing independence as a moment of stocktaking, the Gambian leader observed that Guinea Conakry had been in the forefront of Africa's independence struggle, and that as such "the significance of Guinea's independence celebration is that we learn a lesson from them".

The president stressed the fact that Guinea has been able to get to this point without the help of outside forces, contrary to general feeling. Making reference to the early days of his assumption of authority at the mantle of leadership of this country, he recalled assertions by prophets of doom that he was not going to succeed, "but unless we offend Allah, we will continue to develop".

"I am quite sure that Gambians are not that kind of people," he stated.

According to Kebba Dibba of GRTS, who accompanied the presidential entourage to the West African nation, the first francophone West African country to have attained independence, 50 years ago, the landmark celebrations were done in grand style.

He told the Daily Observer that in all, seven heads of states from the sub region where at hand to grace the occasion, alongside various other representatives of heads of states and governments from other parts of the continent. He described the ceremony as one that was characterized by colourful processions of school children, members of the civil society and security personnel.

Mr Dibba disclosed that in a brief interview with the press at the parade grounds, President Jammeh had congratulated Guineans, calling on them to unite in building a prosperous nation. "Guinea is a great country, through unity its people can make a prosperous country," the Gambian leader was reported to have told the Guinean media.

Thousands of people gathered outside on one of the biggest avenues leading to the presidential palace to hear the speeches planned for the ceremony which started with First Lady Henriette Conte laying a wreath for "all the martyrs" of Guinea. She was said to have presided over most of the programs held in commemoration of the 50th Golden Jubilee of Independent Guinea.

In a brief statement, Prime Minister Tidiane Souare welcomed the heads of state and foreign dignitaries present on Thursday. He recalled the words of "independent Guinea's first president", Ahmed Sekou Toure: "There is no dignity without freedom: we prefer freedom in poverty to riches in slavery."

The Guinean prime minister underscored the significance of the day, promising to work for the ultimate goal of the entire citizenry.