Gambians are known to be very accommodating and easy going despite the curses and the social media noises. Anyone who narrates the socialisation of the Banjul residents until the 1980s, you will be proud to know everyone is a family.
Celebrating our religious days were done together and Christians and Muslims would flock around their respective families depending on which celebrations are going on.
We are celebrating the Islamic New Year of 1442 and both today and tomorrow mark the Tamkharit, the 9th and 10th days of the new year when Muslims are recommended to fast and Cherreh is cooked in the evening and shared with neighbours.
Tamkharit reminds us of the need to pray for each other and for our neighbours so that Allah will bring us peace and tranquillity. This is therefore the right moment to pray for respite from the pandemic. It is the moment to pray for our leaders to see our plight and respond to the needs of the people who put them in their places.
As we pray, let us not forget NAWEC! As a country, we continue being baffled by the degree of degradation of our public utilities. We have no electricity and water and when we do, it does not last for a blink of an eye. The frustration and anger are palpable especially when the curfew is on and he heat in the rooms would not allow any to be locked up in their rooms.
We also pray for NAWEC to improve their services and that we begin to have a 24/7 electricity and water across the country, sooner.