The people of Kantora District in the Upper River Region (URR) of the country have expressed their unwavering commitment to maintain the current political status quo in the district, and pledged 'total support' for President Jammeh in the forthcoming 2011 Presidential Election.

The people of Kantora, who were speaking Thursday afternoon during a meeting held in Koina village in the district as part of the ongoing 2010 'Dialogue with the people tour' stressed that they are supporting the president not only for the development projects he brought to their area, but for the genuine love they have for him. For his part, President Jammeh told the people that he is not in the district for politics as he is already assured of their loyalty to him and the APRC. He commended them for the loyalty, which he said has been on since 1994.

Responding to some of the concerns raised by the people such as the need to reconstruct Basse-Kantora road, upgrade the Koina Minor Health Centre, as well as provision of more farm implements and inputs to boost farming, the president apologised to them for the current condition of the road, and promised to reconstruct the road in the area that connects Basse through Koina. He opined that the people of the area deserve such infrastructure to improve their conditions in view of the fact that they have been manifesting a genuine show of loyality to him and his party.

"The road network is the first priority. Some people suggested that I should bring the Sankulay-Kunda ferry to Basse but I am not doing that because it is not development and a way forward; the way forward and development is to build a similar bridge that is between Sankulay Kunda-Janjangbureh in Basse-Sandugu," the president promised, assuring that this would be done soon. The Gambian leader told the people of Kantora that all what is left in terms of basic social amenities to be fulfilled for them by his government is a good road network, reminding them that he has provided them with electricity and water facilities, amongst others.

Also speaking, the minister of the Interior, Ousman Sonko told the meeting that the Gambian leader has since 1994 to date put peace and security high on its development agenda, and commended him [President Jammeh] for that. He explained that the electrification of the region is not only meant for household consumption but also to enhance security in the area as it discourages criminals from carrying out illegal activities.

He recalled that in 2005, when criminality was on the rise in the region, the president out of his desire to ensure the security of every Gambian instructed the deployment of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) in Fatoto. He pointed out that the presence of the PIU has significantly reduced crime in the area.

However, the Interior minister stressed that the police alone cannot do it all, and urged residents of the region to cooperate with them in ensuring that the security of the region becomes everyone's business. He further urged all and sundry to be each other's keeper in jealously safeguarding the admirable peace and stability that the country is endowed with, thanks to the dynamic leadership of the president.

He also told the gathering that the existing peace and security in the country contributed in no small measure to the achievements registered in the last 16 years by the Jammeh administration.
 
Drugs
The Interior minister also spoke on the illicit drug trade,  and warned the people, youths in particular, to distance themselves from it. He advised them to be vigilant about drug dealers given the fact that Koina is prone to such activities as it is near the border. He further urged them not to allow drugs to be used in their households or harbour drug dealers, warning that there are severe laws against such.

Minister Sonko went on to enlighten the people on the devastating effects of drugs on society, saying it has made many youths to become inmates in prison and insane in psychiatric health facilities. He concluded by challenging the youths to nurture attitudinal change and be conscious of the fact that they are the future leaders of the country.

Speaking earlier, the deputy minister of Agriculture, Kalifa Kambi, thanked the people of the area, Koina in particular, for responding to the Gambian leader's back-to-the-land call, which he said is geared towards making Gambia self-reliant in food. Responding to concerns raised by the villagers on the need for more farm implements to increase their agricultural production, Deputy Minister Kambi told them that President Jammeh, who is the number one farmer and minister of Agriculture, cares for farmers, and assured them that their needs have been noted.

He then underscored the importance of agricultural diversification, urging the farmers to engage in different types of farming. He specifically told them to venture into cashew production, sorghum, findi and beekeeping; farming ventures he described as easy and high cash earners.

The Deputy Agriculture Minister also spoke about his ministry's resolve to promote large-scale maize production in the country with a view to responding to the high demand for poultry feed, which is derived from maize. This, he went on, will provide more maize for human consumption as well as reduce the high cost of poultry feed.

The minister of Forestry and Environment, Jatto Sillah, who hails from URR, acknowledged the support and loyalty of the people of Kantora to President Jammeh and the APRC. While advising the people of the area to nurture unity, he called on the entire region to be grateful to the Jammeh administration for having brought about numerous infrastructural developments to their doorsteps. He also declared that the entire region including Wuli is totally for the president.

Speaking earlier, Saikou Samura, the APRC constituency chairman, Koina Ward, reaffirmed their unshakeable loyalty to the president and the APRC. He then appealed for more mechanised farming implements to boost agricultural productivity in the region. Aja Juma Trawally, the lady councilor, Koina Ward, commended President Jammeh for empowering women in the country, while also declaring Kantora as totally behind him. She further commended the president for bringing lots of developments to their doorsteps.

The chief of Kantora, Bacho Ceesay; Bocarr Jawo and Suraka Gumanneh all expressed similar sentiments, while hailing the Gambian leader's efforts.
 
Visit to Koina health facility
Shortly after the meeting, the president inspected the Koina Minor Health Centre, and pledged 60,000 liters of gas oil and one water reserve tank for the centre. He also gave a handsome cash amount to some patients on admission.
 
Visit to URR Nerica Rice Farmers Association
President Jammeh then proceeded to Suduwol in the same district, where he visited the URR Nerica Rice Farmers Association (NAFA). The Gambian leader, as a show of encouragement to the association, bought all the bags of rice in their stores, amounting to D328, 400. He also pledged 11 bags of his highly matured cashew nuts to the association with a view to promoting cashew production.