By Yunus S Saliu
One of the most respected former National Assembly members, Honorable Sidia Jatta has emphasized that The Gambia is not a poor country but it is Gambians that are poor in thinking.
Speaking at YMCA during an organised symposium held in honour of a Gambia-Denmark based philanthropist, Sulayman Junkung Sawaneh, under the theme – the importance of true patriotism as a catalyst for national development, Honorable Jatta disclosed that there is a big problem in the country “but we don’t know that we have (problem).”
Giving his reason, he said it is hardly that one can find anybody who is committed to the word Gambia as a geopolitical entity, “in the sense to believe that I (they) can’t leave without this entity that is not even the thinking among politicians.”
He noted that the country gained its liberty in the last fifty-six years but without nothing to show for it as an “independent nation, a small geopolitical which is as small as this, it is very rich contrary to what people think or say that it is poor, no, Gambia as a geopolitical entity is not poor but Gambians are poor in thinking.”
Proofing his words, he said if the country depend only on River Gambia “that we are having here, Gambia is very rich,” asking rhetorically how much wealth is in that river, what use can make of it to enrich Gambians.”
According to him, with the river Gambia, the country can have agriculture in twelve months of the year using the river even when there is no rainfall but “we are begging for food when we should be giving out to people which is the reason I said we are having problem.”
For a good understanding and more contributions, he encouraged the organizer of the symposium to further organize a bigger forum for a better discussion of the theme – the importance of true patriotism as a catalyst for national development.