By Lamin Kujabi
His Excellency President Adama Barrow on Thursday 12th March 2020 returned from Dakar, Senegal after attended the Senegalo-Gambian Presidential council meeting there. He left The Gambia on Wednesday 11th March for that meeting.
President Adama Barrow shortly after his plane touched the ground was received at the Banjul International Airport by Her Excellency the Vice President Dr. Isatou Touray.
President Barrow explained to the press that they had a similar meeting in Banjul in 2018 and this is the second presidential council since it was set up. “During the meeting we have discussed all the relevant issues such as trade, timber, border, transportation and judiciary.”
He further highlighted that they also discussed the domestication of air services and basically many agreements were signed but the “most important one is that we have all agreed on principle to domesticate air service between The Gambia and Senegal, and I think that would make it cheaper and will allow many people to use air from The Gambia to Senegal and we also agreed on the implementation of transportation agreement on the 29th March 2020. We have also agreed that borders will open 24 hours.” The President discloses.
President Barrow admitted that the meeting was the biggest successful presidential council meeting so far and it is the most important meeting at the bilateral level with Senegal and “we are ready to implement the agreements. I think the political will is there between Senegal and The Gambia to move these two countries forward.” The President said.
Cabinet ministers, senior government officials, security chiefs and dignitaries were all present at the airport to welcome the President back to The Gambia.