The Basse Youth Association (BYA) was on Monday night, 17th August, launched at the Basse Youth Centre in the Upper River Region (URR).

In his welcoming address, the chairman of the BYA, Momodou Salieu Kamara, expressed happiness at the opportunity given to him, to spearhead this important association. "I think this is the greatest opportunity a good citizen can be accorded.  This association was established when there was a need and therefore given birth on the 17th April, 2009. And the circumstances surrounding its birth was necessitated by the need to bring together the youth of Basse and its environs in order to develop our motherland and promote the welfare of youths as they are important stakeholders towards national development and finally to prepare an honest and good ground for generations coming after," chairman Bah told the gathering. "The BYA has a legal constitution that has been amended and ratified and hence is the working document of the association. Furthermore, the association is wide and diversed and these include among others, the education committee and the finance committee.

All these sub-committees are headed by the chairperson who gives feedback to the general body, whenever meetings are held," he said.  "The association has also registered some achievements in this short period of time, among them, series of setsetal sensitisation campaigns to increase membership, revival of sports and the recent rehabilitation of the high level football field in Basse," chairman Camara revealed.

Chairman Camara finally seized the opportunity to extend President Jammeh, his association's commitment to the development of the country. According to him, President Jammeh is one who every reasonable citizen of The Gambia owes a gratitude, simply because of his love for his people an the nation at large. Camara finally called on government, NGOs, philanthropists, individuals and the business community to support the youth association, as they have various types of programmes and activities, which he said cannot be successfully achieved or implemented without the collaboration of all stakeholders.

"We need the support of every Gambian and non Gambian alike so as to realise our dreams as we owe obligations to the future generations," he concluded. Deputising for the governor of URR, Alhagie Omar Khan, the region's deputy governor, Momodou S Kah, expressed sincere gratitude to the youths of Basse for their foresight by coming together under one association to complement government's efforts in building a better Gambia.

Basse, according to Deputy Governor Kah, is The Gambia's second capital city. He further challenged the youths to live up to expectation, urging them to nurture the spirit of brotherhood.  He finally thanked the members of BTA, on behalf of the governor of URR, and declared the official launching of the Basse Youth Association.

Joseph Furu Gomez, a prominent businessman and regional sports chairman for URR, hailed the youths for what he described as their brilliant idea. Gomez however assured the association of his fullest support any time the need arises. In his closing remarks, the social secretary of BYA, Ousainou Jallow, thanked all those who supported them and called on the youths to become members of BYA, saying that membership is open to all, irrespective of sex, religion etc. Alhagie Jallow, the association's PRO, delivered the vote of thanks.

The launching ceremony, which was attended by over five hundred youths in Basse, was also graced by local government officials, senior security personnel, journalists and cultural groups in the region.