Venezuelans around the world on Thursday, 5th July celebrated their country’s 201 years of nationhood in various forms. In The Gambia, the event was celebrated in the form of a colourful reception and cultural performances organised at the Coco Ocean Hotel and Spa in Bijilo, by its embassy in the country.

They were joined in the celebrations by other diplomatic mission representatives in the country, government officials and a cross-section of friends of the Southern American nation. Addressing the occasion, the Venezuelan ambassador to The Gambia, Her Excellency Lourdes Pirez Martinez, thanked the guests for honouring their invitation, while noting that the most important day for any country is Independence Day.

“Today we are 201 years gloriously independent. The first session of the Venezuelan Supreme Congress took place in the city of Caracas on Saturday, March 2nd 1811 with 33 of the 44 elected members being present. The Supreme Congress was addressed by Simon Bolivar in his first recorded speech. He declared that the national congress was discussing what it should discuss – that it should start by declaring a confederation against the foreign tyranny,” she stated.

Ambassador Martinez said at three o’clock on 5th July, 1811, the Supreme Congress declared in public session the absolute independence of Venezuela and so was born the first Venezuelan Republic. She explained that on the 14th of July, 1811, the Act of Independence was made public, and the first Venezuelan flag was hoisted by the two sons of a prominent freedom fighter, Jose Maria España, who she said had been executed on the same spot 12 years before at the time.

“Today, among many challenges,” she went on,“we continue to ensure that our people are free from any kind of domination and neo-colonialism”.She stated that after 13 years of their present devoted government in power, presidential elections are to be held on 7th October, 2012, when their people will endorse the continuation of a government which is committed to uplifting the quality of life and achieving their goals and all the peoples of the South.

Commenting on the ties that bind Banjul and Caracas, the Ambassador said it stemmed from the commitments made at the African Union Summit in 2006 in the country and the Joint Commission between the two countries in 2007. “We have signed agreements in areas such as energy, health, agriculture, education. telecommunications, tourism, civil aviation and the fight against drug trafficking,” she told the gathering.

In the area of education, Ambassador Martinez disclosed that more than 150 Gambians are studying in various universities in Venezuela, in fields such as integral medicine, agriculture, tourism, telecommunications and engineering.

“Earlier this year in February during the seventh convocation ceremony of the University of The Gambia, the Faraba Banta university villas were inaugurated. This is a project of great importance in building human development through education. The Faraba Banta University Village Project was born at the Joint Venezuela – Gambia Commission held in Caracas in May, 2007. By December 2008, progress had been made, and the foundation stone was laid in July 2009. The Faraba Banta project is now a bright reality,” she indicated.

She noted that in the fields of energy and agriculture, they have helped carry out skill training programmes to develop more specialised manpower needs in The Gambia. She concluded by reaffirming her government’s commitment to the bilateral relations that put the two countries together.

The minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, who was represented by his permanent secretary at the independence celebrations, reaffirmed The Gambia government’s commitment to the ties existing between Banjul and Caracas. He said the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under the leadership of President Chavez, has championed the struggle for a multi-polar world in which the independence of all nations are recognised and respected and the invaluable rights of its citizens maintained.

He said The Gambia is proud and satisfied with the nature of its relationship with its Southern American ally nation, stressing that it is a relationship that is based on mutual respect and anchored on shared values.