By Kebba Ansu Manneh
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Gambia on Monday presented a donation of forty (40) sewing machines plus five hundred and seventy thousand dalasi (D570, 000) cash to the Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, Talib Ahmed Bensuda at a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy at Bijilo.
The presented donations come on the heels of an appeal made by Mayor Bensuda and the Kanifing Municipality Council (KMC) on behalf of the 31st July and 1st August flash floods that inundated many households within the region and many parts of the country.
Speaking at the event, Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensuda expressed his council’s appreciation for the kind gesture extended by the Chinese Embassy, noting that the council has made an appeal to all embassies and diplomatic missions but only the Chinese Embassy responded to the appeal made on behalf of KMC flood victims.
According to him, the five hundred and seventy thousand dalasi (D570, 000) is earmarked to support all flood victims within the Municipality, while the forty (40) sewing machines will go towards the skills development of the young as well as boost economic activities of youths within the region.
“We like to say that the Chinese Embassy is the first foreign body to answer our call for aid to the flood victims. They have always been there for the Kanifing Municipality, they have always been there too to strengthen the relations between the people of The Gambia and the People of the People’s Republic of China,” Mayor Bensuda disclosed.
He revealed to the waiting press that he has discussed a lot of issues with the Chinese Ambassador that is all geared towards establishing fruitful relationships between the Gambia and China, adding that they have also discussed how best they can twin KMC and other cities in China for the mutual benefit of the citizens of the two countries.
Stressing the impact of the 31st July and 1st August flash floods, KMC Mayor stated that fourteen thousand (14, 000) households and hundred thousand (100, 000) people within the region, noting that this prompted council to look for all types of support including food, blankets, mattresses among others but so far, only the Chinese Embassy responded.
Mayor Bensuda finally extended his appreciation of the gesture to the People’s Republic of China through its Ambassador to The Gambia, while assuring that the donated items and cash will be judiciously used to benefit the flood victims and young people of the Municipality.
His Excellency Liu Jin, Chinese Ambassador to the Gambia affirmed that the embassy is open to all Gambians, adding that China and The Gambia are true friends to each other based on trust, support, and respect for each other.
“Today I am very happy to present these donations of sewing machines and five hundred and seventy thousand dalasi (D570, 000) to the Kanifing Municipality Council. I hope that these donations will be helpful to the needs of the victims towards their rehabilitation,” Ambassador Liu Jin said at the ceremony.
He affirmed that his discussions with the mayor of KMC centered on areas that will further cement the bilateral relationship between Banjul and Beijing, adding that his embassy will do everything possible to enhance the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries and its people for a win-win situation.