By Basidia M Drammeh:
The tragic boat incident, which claimed the lives of at least 50 Gambian nationals who were embarking on a journey in a desperate attempt to reach European shores in search of greener pastures, is yet another brutal reminder of the sense of hopelessness among the Gambian youth.
Migrants journeys to Europe (Library image)
The decline of back-way related casualties in recent years is not attributed to efforts by our Government, rather it’s due to increased patrols by Spanish authorities. The government still seems oblivious to the plight of the youth. While I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, I call on the Government to create more opportunities for the youth to dissuade them from embarking on perilous journeys to reach Europe. Something has to be done now! The government should declare a national day of mourning for people to reflect and pray for the victims. The ongoing Meet the People’s tour should be suspended until further to mourn the death of so many young people.