By Yunus S Saliu
Celebrating the 5th Edition of the Janjangbureh Kankurang Festival, the President of The Gambia has used the occasion to express his dismay over the destruction of some certain historic monuments on the McCarthy Island (Janjangbureh).
Presiding over the festival on behalf of President Adama Barrow, the Vice President of The Gambia, Dr Isatou Touray said it is “rather sad that certain historic monuments on the Island which form a critical role in the overall history of the Island of Janjangbureh is being slowly destroyed.”
Historic buildings, she pointed out, are being pulled downed in front of the eyes of the community, “this is sad and it must stop.”
Looking for correction to this, “first and foremost on the community should find ways and means of stopping this destruction of heritage on the Island and they we in government will do the legislate accordingly.”
Because “if the sites are destroyed, then a day will come the tourists coming here will no longer have anything to see. And we all know that when you destroy the attractions, tourists will not come and that will weaken all the efforts that we have expended all these years to turn this community into a tourism hub,” she informed the community.
More so, lodges, guests houses and similar eco tourism accommodation are being built on the island; then why should we sit and see the heritage being destroyed?” she asked rhetorically.
On behalf of President of The Gambia, the vice president expressed gratitude to participants; LOC; the various cultural groups that have far and wide, the technicians, press and all officials for their attendance while she thanked the partners – YEP, UNESCO NATCOM; GTBoard; GTHI; NCAC; Governor of CRR and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture among other partners for their supports.
However, she assured the community of Janjangbureh that “the government of His Excellency Adama Barrow, President of Republic will continue to work towards building an inclusive and dynamic culture centered tourism sector where the needs of the communities are well taken care of.”
Honorable Hamat NK Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture expressed delights on the celebration of the festival and highlighted on the importance government attaches to the island, the festival in The Gambia history.
He noted that in 1823 the first free slave landed in the island “and next year marking 200 years of the existence will be celebrated nationally and internationally on the Island.”
He reiterated that the government attached very important to “our culture and heritage that shows who we are, hopefully, next year celebration will attracts lot of dignitaries including president and diplomats. So we are looking forward to huge festival next year .”
Honorable Bah enjoined the LOC to always make savings from their activities to enable them expand and venture in other projects for the benefit and development of the Janjangbureh community.
