The long anticipated beach cleaning and coconut tree planting exercise has been successfully conducted by the Gunjur Youth Movement (GYM) on Saturday 8th September.

The event saw the attendances of high profile individuals such as the British High Commissioner to The Gambia, H.E Sharon Wardle, Kombo South District Chief, Lamin S Darboe, Human Rights Activist and Environmental campaigner, Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh, Chairman of Gunjur Village Development Committee, Tijani Bojang, Gunjur Ward Councillor, Momodou Charreh Jibba among other distinguished dignitaries. The event which started with a beach cleaning exercise enjoyed a high turnout of representatives of different organisations and community groups across the sprawling coastal settlement. Participating partners included Gunjur Development Association (GDA), Gunjur VDC, WCT, ECGG, ACTIVISTA, Gimindarr Youth Movement, Foots Steps Eco Lodge, Newton Youth Movement, and Allamuta Cultural Group.

British Ambassador H.E Sharon Wardle with Gunjur Youth Movement President Sulayman Bojang

The next phase of the event after cleaning exercise was coconut tree planting which was kick-started by the British High Commissioner to The Gambia, who took the honour of planting the first coconut. This was followed by the VDC Chairman and then the Councillor of Gunjur Ward planting more trees. Other dignitaries followed suit and more coconut trees were eventually planted along the Gunjur beach coastline. Other varieties of trees like palm tree were also planted. The Gunjur Ward Councillor, Momodou Charreh Gibba speaking after the planting exercise reiterated the importance of the planting exercise, noting that such noble and protective initiatives should be more frequent. For his part, Chief Lamin Darboe expressed gratitude to Gunjur Youth Movement for their "laudable initiative ". He maintained that such initiatives will mitigate environmental damages while proffering solutions to our widening environmental problems. The VDC Chairman, Tijani Bojang also stated that the initiative should not only stop at planting trees, but should also include efforts in protecting the trees.

The British Ambassador, Sharon Wardle praised the zeal and enthusiasm of the Gunjur Youths in fighting for what is right for themselves and the unborn generation. Speaking at the event, Dr Amadou Janneh verbalised the "environmental concerns" which "cut across boundaries" being it "political orientation or nationality". He urged the youth to fight against the factors that exacerbate the already depleting environment.

The president of the Movement, Sulayman Bojang thanked all the organisations, diaspora, institutions and businesses, especially Kombo Real Estate for their support in making the event a resounding success. He said: “This cause shall continue. We shall not relent, nor shall we surrender, for you can kill a revolutionary, but not the revolutionary idea” in the words of Thomas Sankara.