It is summer time, during this period; our young people usually flock to the beaches particularly on Sundays to 'enjoy themselves'.

This phenomenon, often called Sunday beach programme, has become an avenue for immoral behavior among our young ones. Despite the practice being criticised by venerable religious leaders and many elderly people, the youths believe the occasion provides for them a perfect platform to relax and refresh their minds.

This reporter attended the last Sunday beach programme at the Palma Rima Hotel junction to assess the conduct of our young boys and girls so as to bring to the limelight the necessity of promoting ethical standards in society. I drove around six o'clock in the evening from the traffic lights at Fajara Junction towards the popular Palma Rima Junction where hundreds of young boys and girls flocked towards the beach. About 30 meters away from the junction, we had to park our car and trek the rest of the journey because the traffic was heavily jammed, and vehicles were moving at snail speed.

At the very junction itself, policemen on duty where busy trying to control the traffic and the huge crowd moving towards the beach. Near the former Calabash Night Club, soldiers mounted a checkpoint and were forcing people to leave the highway so that vehicles can pass. Vendors selling light food like cakes, chicken and afra, as well as drinks, where scattered all over the place. People were also scattered in small groups with majority of the girls in their usual 'tips and tops' and 'changals' with part of their breasts barely covered.

Some of the girls who spoke to this reporter claimed that their mode of dressing is modern fashion and the half-covered breast is called 'push up'. Many of the boys also had their trousers below their buttocks "utal".  What was even more amazing was that some attended the programme with small children many of whom are as young as two years or less. As the wave of darkness began colouring the sky, it was not surprising that announcements of missing children began dominating the microphones.

On the left and right sides of the beach stood two giant stages belonging to two leading GSM operators, namely Comium and Africell. At the Comium stage, hundreds of people stood to watch the grand finale of the kick-and-win competition, and after that they started dancing in Comium T-shirts and caps to the melodious music produced by the champion sounds system. King Kuraskuras was also on stage to entertain the crowd.

Ismaila Cham, Comium's marketing supervisor, explained they were on the beach to provide entertainment to their subscribers. When quizzed as to whether it is healthy to bring children to such an environment, he replied that children need fun and this is why they take it upon themselves to provide entertainment for them. "We know that those coming here are young; this is why as far as Comium is concerned, we start early and finish by eight o'clock', he explained.

The Africell stage got even more crowded as hundreds of young boys and girls gathered to watch young Gambian musicians perform.
Peter Briam, Africell senior communication supervisor, said his company has been providing entertainment for their subscribers and the general public for the past five years; he also sees the occasion as a platform for young musicians to rise and be able to compete even on the international stage.  

His assertion was corroborated by some of the young musicians, particularly Mighty Joe and Baddibounko, who converged at the ground to perform what they called the 'last spot' before Ramadan,. Asked to comment on the disadvantages of exposing young children to such an environment, Peter has this to say: "We know that some of the children come to the beach to engage themselves in immoral acts, this is why Africell deems it necessary to provide such an entertainment so that they can be distracted from such naughty behaviour and concentrate on the stage."

All the young people who spoke to this reporter saw nothing wrong in the Sunday beach programme, as they see it as a unique and rare moment for them to enjoy themselves. When asked about the improper activities and the indecent dressing particularly among young girls, many replied that those who often complain about the Sunday beach are just being jealous because they have enjoyed their younger days; and should leave the young ones to enjoy theirs.  One girl dressed in what would be described as divan wear said: "Those elders who are saying going to beach is bad are just talking because even their sons and daughters do come here."

From that cool evening till midnight, it was nude dresses, dance and immoral conduct galore. From all indications, the good social values and ethical codes that our society is known for are put to the grave whenever our young ones gather on the beach to do what they believe is enjoyment. Concerned parents should therefore be cautious in providing for the needs of their children because they are the future leaders.

Of course, we admit that children deserve the right to entertainment, but the type of entertainment they should indulge in should be carefully selected, otherwise we might end up giving them a 'sweet pain'. When on the beach on Sunday, it is unfortunate that one gets a picture of a sun flash carnival in Kingston or New York, and not a real Gambian society, a society widely acclaimed for decency. It is therefore time for us to rethink the Sunday beach programme.