The vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, yesterday received at her office at State House in Banjul, Alhaji Kisima Juwara, from Basse in the Upper River Region, who has spent most of his life time in Angola.

Juwara was at State House to express his gratefulness to the president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh through the vice president, for offering him the opportunity to travel to the holy city of Mecca to perform pilgrimage last year. Speaking at the vice president's office during a courtesy call, Juwara said while he was away in Angola, President Jammeh had been immensely helpful to him and other Gambians there. He told VP Njie-Saidy that at the time President Jammeh was taking him to pilgrimage last year, he had not a child after marrying for quite a long time. He said with the grace of Allah (the Almighty), his wife delivered a baby boy some months after he returned from Mecca.

Juwara told the gathering that in showing his gratefulness to President Jammeh, he decided to name the baby boy after him. I have nothing to do for the president but to thank him, he said.Dr Abubacarr Gaye, minister of Health and Social Welfare, commended Juwara for the move. According to him, President Jammeh's annual pilgrimage packages are indeed a manifestation of his love for humanity. He assured Juwara of The Gambia government?s commitment to give support to people at all times. Responding to Juwara, Vice President Njie-Saidy said the move taken by Juwara is what is expected of a true citizen. According to her, Juwara has been committing most of his time to national development.

He used to actively participate in many national functions, VP Njie-Saidy said. President Jammeh's leadership, she added, has indeed exposed The Gambia to the rest of the world more than before. Vice President Njie-Saidy then reiterated government's unreserved commitment to the well-being of its citizens and commended Juwara for the move, urging him to continue his commitment to national development.