Editorial

The Gambia, Land of the Smiling Coast and home of the law abiding, peaceful and hospitable people; this is the image that always come to the mind of people when the name of our country is mentioned. We are tolerant and our doors are always open to embrace everyone who wants to contribute to the advancement of humanity.

Under the dynamic leadership of President Jammeh, this culture of tolerance, civility and forbearance has been expounded even further. President Jammeh has provided the environment for not only Gambians and non-Gambians to excel and fulfill their potentials, but also co-exist in unison and harmony. More importantly, our understanding of our culture and our acceptance of responsibility and adherence to the constitution engenders a society of peaceful co-existence.

The president's warning to foreign nationals to abide by the law and desist from drug trafficking and other heinous crimes deserves greater attention. Those who come from outside to make the country as a base to make ends meet, should understand that it is because of our generosity and trouble-free society that they found shelter and tranquility. Such hospitality on the part of our people should not be used to corrupt our just social order. Every corner of this earth is administered by moral principles, and as human beings, wherever we found ourselves, we are bound to comply with those moral principles or vacate that territory.

Furthermore, acts of kidnapping, drug trafficking, murder and a host of other crimes only construct the destruction of society. A society that is notorious for such activities simply denies itself development, as it breeds insecurity which drains the people's confidence in development.

These undesirable elements among the foreign nationals should understand that this country has set itself a target, a vision which calls for the construction of a country that will become a super power in terms of peace and development. Gambians under the dynamic stewardship of His Excellency, the president of the Republic will never compromise this wonderful vision and will never relent in achieving this. As explicitly stipulated in the Vision 2020, the ambition of our government is to make The Gambia a trading, export-oriented agricultural and manufacturing nation, thriving on free market policies and a vibrant private sector, sustained by a well-educated, trained, skilled, healthy, self-reliant and enterprising population. Crimes should therefore have no place in the country if such an ambition is to materialize.

While recognizing the invaluable contribution of some genuine and honest foreigners in our development efforts, we hope that the foreigners who are engaged in such dubious acts will cease doing so. It is only when we collectively devote ourselves to the cause of social justice that we can achieve what we yearn for ourselves. President Jammeh always maintains that The Gambia belongs to all Africans.

We should therefore endeavor to complement his efforts and not otherwise. There is a saying that "You must not bite the hands that feed you". The Gambia is a safe haven for all of us, we should not at any cost alter the pleasant atmosphere that it provides us.