By Mariama Njie
A Belgian Navy Ship docked at Banjul port on Sunday loaded with medical items, musical instruments, glasses and agricultural products from city council authorities of Ostend for delivery to the Banjul City Council (BCC).
The items were received by Banjul Deputy Mayor Omar Baba Touray at a ceremony witnessed by the Belgian Counselor to The Gambia, Officials of the Belgian Navy and BCC officials
“The Belgian command and logistical support ship, the A960 GODETIA, stops over in Banjul during the operation Maritime Capacity Building 2019 (MCB19). As a service to her patron city Ostend, the Belgian ship delivers goods to the city of Banjul, as command did during the 2016 and 2018 edition of the mission along the shores of West-Africa”, said Commander Gert Laenen
According to him, the A960 GODETIA will spend three days in Banjul before leaving to participate in the international exercise dubbed “Grand African NEMO 19”, which is embedded within the broader African Partnership Station programme. During this exercise, the ship will work closely together with crew members from Guinea, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire.
“Our mission is to participate in an international joint training programme with three West African countries that include Guinea, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire. We will be engaging in training their marine crew in a bid to curtail some of the challenges these countries encounter at sea not losing sight of the millions of dollars that these countries lose due to illegal fishing,” said the ship Commander.
Receiving the donated items, Touray recalled the longstanding bilateral relations between Banjul and Brussels, revealing that this relation propelled Banjul City and Ostend to established a twin relationship way back in 2003 that is primarily set-up to bring the peoples, ideas and knowledge together in fostering growth and development.
He said the medical items will be given to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) earmarked for improving service delivery of the facility, while musical groups in Banjul will be given the musical instruments.
Touray assured officials of Banjul-Ostend Link of the proper utilization of the donated items.
Ousman Jobe, Coordinator of Banjul Port Authority said they have been partnering with the Belgian since 2003, and the city has also supported Banjul City Council with items.
“This time around they have supported us with medical items for the Edward Teaching hospital, salt tablets for the ice plan, musical instruments for the skill centers and the fishing equipment for Crab island’’, he revealed.