By Fatou Sillah
The Minister of Lands, Regional Governments, and Religious Affairs, Honourable Abba Sanyang, has called on Gambians to protect their lands and forest cover for future use.
The Minister, currently with the president, on a constitutionally mandated ‘Meet The People Tour,’ made those remarks during a meeting held in Chamoi Village, Jimara constituency.
“Let us protect our forest cover for the future and desist from selling all of the limited land resources we have. Selling most of our land and forest cover will make staying in this country very hard. Our livelihood depends on the land and its forest cover. We build our residential dwellings on this land. Our animals graze on this land, and our schools, hospitals, and roads are also built on it. Our share of land is not increasing, but our population is increasing. Therefore we should jealously guard what we have.” – Minister Sanyang advised.
He also cautioned against religious intolerance, describing it as a threat to national cohesion and peace. He urged religious leaders to preach peace and desist from personal attacks and incitement to violence.
“Religious leaders have a responsibility to preach peace,” the Minister said, adding that religion should not be used to incite violence or discredit other religious scholars or groups.