Editorial, 

The Gambia belongs to Gambians no matter where we find ourselves. It is this country that we own and hence can be proud of. Every person has the right to leave your country of origin and reside in another country legally. There is nothing wrong in that as every human being is entitled to freedom of movement. It is however unfortunate that unscrupulous elements of The Gambia who illegally force their way out of this country to join a society in which they are never accepted are hell bent on slandering the decent government and people of this country just to achieve their individual selfish interest. 

However, the move by a court in Italy to dismiss the case of one Ebrima Jaiteh, a Gambian who claimed to have been sentenced to death by an Islamic court in this country for homosexuality is a clear indication that no matter how evil plotted, falsity is fabricated, truth will always prevail at the end. We do not need to mention how such baseless fabrications can tarnish our image as Gambians. Every individual has freedom of movement and as Gambians we should always understand that there is nothing wrong in going to Europe, but whosoever wants to leave this country in search of greener pasture must do so in a legal and decent manner. Going around the world making endless fabrications against the decent government and people of this country can only lead to self distruction. The case of this unscrupulous Ebrima Jaiteh is not only an indication that the truth can never be supressed, but it should also serve as an eye opener to all thoes self-seeking and who out of jealousy and hatred, slander The Gambia.

Our advice to Gambians particularly the youth is to understand that the current leadership has advanced greatly in maximizing the growth potentials of this country. The series of development projects that have opened up windows of opportunities for Gambians are numerous. Besides all this, the leadership has initiated a series of self-help projects that if utilized by the people can lead to living a reasonable livelihood, among which is the crucial 'back to the land' call.

It is because of these realities that President Jammeh is calling on Gambians to change attitude and become active agents in the shaping of our own destiny. Such a call from the leadership of our country is an indication that the president has a strong desire for the development of The Gambia and for ensuring that every citizen harnesses and utilizes his or her potentials.

From all indications, The Gambia is on the right path to gaining the economic benefits of infrastructural development. Our resolve to turn the country into a Silicon Valley cannot be materialized without the appropriate infrastructure in place. With the ideal infrastructure in place, the morals of the citizens become high and as a result, are motivated to tap the investment opportunities at their disposal. We will definitely see a different Gambia when most if not all of the infrastructural projects underway have become materialized. We will be more conscious of the value of our Gambian identity and be always proud to welcome our guests in our midst. This is indeed a vital dimension of dynamic leadership.

It is apparent that the visionary and dynamic leadership of President Jammeh is geared towards elevating the social and moral status of the citizenry and as well promote a genuine national development. It is therefore a moral obligation upon each and every Gambian to partake in the ongoing national development process. Much importantly, the youth have to realize that it is on their shoulders that the future of the country is hanging. Venturing into agricultural production, the output of which will help generate income for a decent livelihood, learning a trade, petty business among other things will produce a progressive future.

On the other hand, venturing into illegal migration simply means you are denying yourself a sense of belonging. This is because you reject where you belong to and will force yourself into a society in which you will never be accepted. You will simply be treated as an uninvited refugee at a rich man's gate and hence survive at the expense of your dignity, personality and worth. What then is the benefit of slandering your own country. The enabling environment is already in place for a progressive future; let us amalgamate our efforts to complement those of the government to accomplish our vision 2020 desire. All genuine and patriotic citizens who wish The Gambia progress, peace and prosperity shall live to enjoy the glories of success; and evil vanquished.