Gambians in Sweden Urged to Connect With Homeland The Independent (Banjul) NEWS September 20, 2002 Posted to the web September 20, 2002 By Pk Jarju Banjul The Minority Leader and Member of Serekunda Central Halifa Sallah returned from Sweden urging Gambians there to maintain links with their motherland. Honourable Sallah was invited there by the Organization of Gambians, an the Gambia Cell, an organization sponsoring the construction of a maternity ward of the Sukuta Health Centre. Speaking at a press briefing shortly after his return Hon Sallah who described his visit as fruitful stated that it has given him the opportunity to attend rallies and to address a symposium organized by the Gambian Community in which he discussed issues regarding elections that were taking place in Sweden at the time and the current Gambian situation. He added that during the symposium, emphasis were laid that irrespective of the fact that they are away from their country Gambians in the Diaspora should consider themselves as true citizens of the country and must involve themselves in her socio- economic development. He added that they also discussed their rights as Gambians, which includes the right to take part in the national political process. Honourable Sallah explained that he has discussed with the Gambian community that they cannot cut off their link from their origin and must realise that the country although miles away, belongs to all Gambians within and without. He admonished that if they fail to contribute in the development of the country they would in contribute to sustaining their impoverished families here. He noted that he has also expressed the need for them to collaborate and form organizations which would facilitate development initiatives for the country as well as a solidarity and re-orientation which he said would also enable them to educate Swedes with Gambian origin who could be prominent people in the association. He added that as he was given a free hand to attend any gathering, he had seized the opportunity to meet with religious leaders, members of parliament, mayors and other senior Swedish officials with whom many important issues were discussed as power does not only belong to political representatives but social organizations. He added that one of the mayors had after their discussions expressed willingness and the desire to finance the Adult Literacy Programs he initiated for the villages of Sanyang, Gunjur, and Wuli among other projects in the country. He noted that as the minority leader he has also developed a close link between the National Assembly and the Swedish Parliament, which can be promoted at mutual levels. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~