By Binta Jaiteh
The mayor of Banjul has expressed hope that embarking on a journey of cooperation and partnership with the city of North Miami will enrich the lives of citizens of the two cities and contribute to the progress and prosperity of both.
The Banjul City Council (BCC) and North Miami on Wednesday signed a partnership agreement at Arch 22 in Banjul and the joint initiative is a concept to promote connection, understanding, collaboration, cultural exchanges and economic opportunities between the two cities.
Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe said the signing of the agreement was remarkable, describing the day as a celebration of the establishment of cooperation between the two cities. The two cities, she went on, share a common aspiration for growth development.
“Our cities have rich cultural heritages and a spirit of resilience. Through this partnership, we will forge lasting bonds of friendship, build bridges of understanding and leverage our quality strength to create a brighter future for our residents,” Banjul mayor underscored.
“It is crucial that we acknowledge the pressing issue of climate change and the urgent need for climate resilience in our cities. Both Banjul and North Miami are coastal cities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and it’s essential that we address these challenges together,” she added.
Mayor Lowe recalled August of last year when Banjul experienced flash floods never seen in the city for over forty years. The floods, she continued, caused damage to property, infrastructure and loss of lives.
According to her, the two settlements are coastal cities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. “It is essential that we address these challenges together; climate change knows no borders. Meanwhile, rising sea levels, extreme weather condition and erratic rainfall patterns threaten our communities, ecosystems and our economies,” she pointed out.
She expressed the confidence that the two cities can together lead by example, showing the world that through collaboration and collective action, the challenges of climate change could be dealt with and resilient and sustainable cities could be built.
Mayor of North Miami Alex Desulme expressed delight and gratitude over the cooperation between the two cities and hoped for more engagements.
