The visiting American artist, Chaz Guest, who specialises in painting, has suggested that James Island in Juffureh in the North Bank Region to be renamed Kunta Kinteh or Kinteh Island.

He explained that this is necessary given the great resistance Kunta  displayed during the inhumane slave trade that saw uncountable number of healthy black Africans shipped to America and Europe. Guest made these remarks while speaking to reporters Tuesday evening at State House in Banjul shortly after his audience with The Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh.

He disclosed that he got the idea about changing the name of the Island, which was included in the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world heritage site list in 2003, when he visited the place recently. The American painter also commented on the efforts made by the president in bridging the gap between Africans and African-Americans, describing such a move as very necessary.
"I am going to be working on that with my colleagues and friends in America because it is all about spreading the world," he stated. He also told the reporters about his impression of the talented young artists in the country, notably those who trade in painting, and expressed his readiness to assist them in their endeavours.

Chaz Guest went on to express his resolve to produce a paint work for the president in observance of his birthday on May 25, 2010. He expressed his appreciation to the Gambian leader for giving him books on The Gambia and a gold bracelet.