The Brazilian government has expressed sincere thanks to The Gambia government for supporting Brazil in the person of Professor José Graziano da Silva, to elect him to the post of Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization – FAO for the 2012 – 2015 term, on the occasion of the XXXVII Meeting of the Conference of the Organisation.

The message reads:
“The Brazilian government has the honor to transmit to the government of The Gambia its most sincere thanks for their support to Brazil in the person of Professor José Graziano da Silva, to elect him to the post of Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization – FAO for the 2012 – 2015 term, on the occasion of the XXXVII Meeting of the Conference of the Organisation, which takes place in the period from June 25 to July 2, 2011 in Rome.

This unprecedented victory will enable us to meet the conditions needed to bring all WTO member countries around the goal of eradicating world hunger.  Moreover, the opportunity that presents itself to the FAO will, as a whole, encourage the production and consumption sustainable food, give more balance to the management of food systems, completing the process of reforming the Organisation and expand partnerships and international cooperation initiatives.

………………………
Meanwhile, the president of the Republic has also received congratulatory messages from Karl Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of African Petroleum Corporation Limited; Kanja B.A.S Sanneh, Deputy Head of Mission; Wives of the Convicted Ex-Soldiers & Civilians in Serrekunda; and Elizabeth Frances Yamide Renner, former Speaker of the National Assembly, on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of the July 22nd celebration.

The messages read:
 I am writing on behalf of our chairman Mr Frank Timis to extend to you our greetings on the forthcoming celebrations of the 17th Anniversary of the July 22nd Revolution and wish to extend to You and Your Government and indeed to all the people of The Gambia many more successful and happy years of prosperity.

On behalf of everybody at and associated with African Petroleum please accept our warmest greetings.  African Petroleum is honored to be playing an active role in your country under your inspired leadership and look forward to many more prosperous years ahead.

Karl Thompson
Chief Executive Officer
African Petroleum Corporation Ltd

…………………………
I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of my family and on my own behalf to congratulate you on occasion of the development oriented second republic July 22nd celebrations.

Your Excellency, Gambians indeed have cause to celebrate after sixteen years of your government’s commitment, hard work and sincerity to the citizenry accompanied by development in every corner of our country.

The world, Your Excellency, is witnessing the peace, harmony and the everyday progressive development involving Gambians of all age, gender and tribe under your dynamic leadership and this continuing to make the Gambia an everyday beacon of hope for many around the world.

Please allow me to thank Your Excellency for assisting the Gambia with a first class modern ferry service linking the capital to the northern part of the country.  We are all happy for this positive development as the country has never had such magnificent vessels throughout its history.

I pray to Almighty Allah, Subhana Wataala, to give you and your family good health, long life, strength, courage and guidance from day to day and year to year.  Once again, my family and I send you our warmest felicitations on this joyous occasion.

Kanja B.A.S Sanneh
Deputy Head of Mission

…………………………
On the occasion of the July 22nd Revolution, we wish to heartily congratulate Your Excellency on this auspicious day.  This day is so special to us and Gambians of all walks of lives, for which we are very grateful for the remarkable and continuous development, registered in the length and breadth of the country.

Sir, Your Excellency, this day is worth celebrating for which it was the day a new Gambia was born and the restoration of our dignities as people, hence rekindling a purposeful and progressive future for all and sundry.

We congratulate you once more and prayed for Allah’s continuous guidance, for your continued good health, long life and prosperity in your endeavour to steer this country to higher heights in the development epoch.  May Allah – the almighty continue to shower his endless blessings on you, the first family and your government.

Sir, Your Excellency, we would like to seize this opportunity in wishing you a landslide victory in the forth-coming Presidential Election.  Forward forever and backward never with Jammeh the sky is the spring board for what lies beyond.

Please accept the assurance of our highest consideration.

Ms. Awa Njie-Gaye
(Acting Secretary)
Wives of the Convicted Ex-Soldiers & Civilians, Serrekunda

…………………………
It is indeed an honour for me to be able to once more associate myself with this great achievement of yours.  It therefore gives me tremendous pleasure to again send your heartiest congratulations this year, as sincere Gambians join you on July 22nd to celebrate the seventeenth anniversary of your pledge to achieve incomparable development for our beloved country, The Gambia.

Mr President, Sir, the 22nd July action was no small feat and should be seen, not as a mere revolution, but as a positive giant step to uplift the lives of the Gambian people in all spheres, but especially in the areas of Education, Health and Agriculture.  Developments, especially in these three areas, are very obvious and well documented both as growth institutions and infrastructure as well as in human resource capacity, and can never be over-emphasised.

Yet what impresses me the most, Your Excellency, is the magnanimity of the enhancement of Gambian women over these past seventeen years, which has seen them move from the bottom rungs of the social ladder to the top echelon of society.  Not only do women now occupy those areas, both career wise and as administrators and politicians, which were considered male domains before 1994, but under your leadership and support, Mr President, which has culminated in the enactment of the 2010 Women’s Act, Gambians women are now firmly taking hold of their reins of progress in their own hands and contributing their rightful quota to the development of their nation.

I therefore, Mr President, in the voices of those thousands of women whose lives you have touched, call on the Almighty God our father, to continue to shower his blessings on you, and to give you the health and strength but most especially the support you need to stir this country to the higher heights you have always envisaged for it.  May you live to celebrate many more 22nd July anniversaries, and may this year’s celebrations herald in abundant success in all your undertakings.

While reiterating my congratulations to you, Mr President, the first family, the government and people of The Gambia, please be assured, Your Excellency, of my highest esteem at all times.

Elizabeth Frances Yamide Renner
Fajara M. Section