Editorial

We wish to commend the British government through its high commissioner to Banjul for the handsome boost to the country’s food aid basket. The aid, which came when it was most needed, is significant in the sense that Gambia can now look forward to a new and more fruitful relationship with her ex-colonial master.

This is a time for great compassion and generosity and no one can afford to be left out. As a matter of fact, without compassion this world would be a hard and very lonely place to live in. The spirit of compassion gets all of us connected; thus hard and difficult times become much easier, because people understand and care about the welfare of others. The gesture of the British is therefore in the spirit of compassion and brotherhood.

After all, food is an essential part of living. Among all human activities eating undoubtedly has the greatest effect on health! After breathing, eating is what we do most frequently during a lifetime. In other words, food is the key to survival and survival is the foundation of life. And it is life that produces development.

Aside the donation to our food aid basket, it imperative to seize this opportunity to remind the British government that, as a former colonial master, it is high time Britain plays a greater role in The Gambia's development process. It can help greatly in complementing the efforts of the Gambian government by building schools, hospitals, roads and above all encouraging British businesspeople and companies to invest here.

Besides, Gambians want to see more British involvement in our development process particularly in the fight against poverty and underdevelopment. If these are done Gambians will be convinced that their former colonial master has their interest at heart and the citizens of the two nations will be proud to work together as members of the same Commonwealth fraternity.

We therefore applaud the British for boosting our food aid basket and hope that they would do more for The Gambia .