In a bid to preserve the history of the Gambia on the slave trade, the United States Embassy in Banjul is renovating James Island and the CFAO building in Albreda, Juffereh.

The US Embassy, in collaboration with the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the Peace Corps, recently embarked on a tour to the two project sites.

As part of their contribution, the members of the community Albreda and Juffureh collected and placed bolder stones and planted mangroves on the river side to serve as buffer to protect the historic CFAO building from collapsing.

Speaking to journalists, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, Cindy Gregg, described the project as magnificent. She said America is proud to take up such a major role in helping to preserve the history of the Gambia for not only Gambians but also the world. Madam Gregg added that the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, Peace Corps, World Wildlife Fund and the NCAC have worked together to make this dream of preserving history a reality.

The Director of Cultural Heritage at NCAC, Baba A. Ceesay, said they are planting the mangroves to protect the old building from the water. The mangroves which, according to Mr. Ceesay, will take three weeks to grow will serve as a barrier between the building and the river.

Alagie Manjang from the department of Parks and Wildlife said the decision to come to Albreda was at the invitation of the Peace Corps office in the Gambia and from a Peace Corp Volunteer in Albreda, Chris Honey, whose Gambian name is Kawsu Dampha. He said Kawsu realised the need to safeguard the building against the force of natural waves and that mangroves are very capable of protecting the coastal environment.

Staff of the US embassy who were on the tour of the two project sites were impressed with the ongoing work on the building which is to maintain its original form.

The CFAO merchant company bought the slave trade building in 1902 and gave it its name. It is one of the two buildings which survived from the period since when the French occupied Albreda between 1681 and 1857. It is not known when the building was built or who built it, but a plan of Albreda drawn in 1847 shows a permanent stone building in that location.