The objective of the tour, according to officials was to enable the new minister,acquaint herself with the progresses and challenges of the various institutions under her care.

Speaking at various institutions, Minister Gaye called on the staff to support each other with a view to ease the work load. She seized the opportunity to thank the Gambian leader for the trust and confidence reposed on her.

Minister Gaye then urges officials to be committed and serious with their work so as to sustain and consolidate the gains made.

Speaking in Banjul, the director of the Department of Forestry, Abdoulie Alpha Sanneh, expressed delight at the minister’s visit and used the opportunity to urge everybody to partake in the protection and conservation of the country’s forest cover.

He then promised the new minister that under his watchful eyes as the director of the Department of Forestry, they continue to strive to live up to expectations.

Receiving the minister at the National Environment Agency, the executive director of that institution, Momodou B. Sarr equally thanked the minister for the visit, while pledging their support to her.

According to the NEA boss, the Agency has 81 staff and four regional offices in the country, which he said are located in Kerewan in the North Bank Region; Mansakonko in Lower River Region; Janjanbureh in Central River Region and Basse in the Upper River Region.

Meanwhile, at the Department of Parks and Wildlife, its director,Alpha Jallow expressing similar sentiments, described the minister’s visit as important. He then used the opportunity to appeal to the minister that his department needs more animals to boost the park.

At the Regional Forestry Office in Brikama, the regional forestry officer in the area, Ousainou Cham thanked the minister for the turn out and promised to fulfill his duty as the officer in-charge of the West Coast Region.