The Liberian community in The Gambia over the weekend celebrated their 166th independence anniversary in grand style at the New Life Children's Center in Kanifing South. The theme for this year's celebration is "unity and reconciliation for transformation" Speaking at the ceremony the guest speaker Saye Mewaseh Daan said "the cleavages that led to over a decade of war in Liberia still run deep and so do the longing for unity and reconciliation defined by equal opportunity and a better future for all Liberians".

He lamented that the Liberian unity evidenced by One Nation indivisible, as encapsulated in their national pledge, has been broken by these cleavages which led to the complete devastation of the fabric of the Liberian society. "It is emphatically conspicuous to us, Liberians that the demolition of our country originated as far as the arrival of the free slaves from America" he said. Daan queried that the indigenous people were subjected to several inhumane acts and deprived of many rights such as the right to owning land, and education amongst others. He quoted the great civil right activist in the United States of America, the late Dr Martin Luther King Junior, who stated that "the returning violence for violence multiplies violence and that deepens the darkness of the night devoid of stars. Hate cannot drive our hate, only love can do that"

He advised his fellow Liberians that though they may find it difficult to cope with the remnants of the 17 years of social unrest back home,especially when seeing around those who brought the wanton anguish upon their fellow countrymen, they still got to stay as a people and maintain unity.

For her part, Madam Lillian Nyenetu Tieh, the vice chairman of the Liberian community in The Gambia expressed delight over the turn out saying this shows the love and care Liberians have for their. She described Liberians as peaceful people and thanked the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR), through the government of the Gambia, for hosting them as refugee in the Gambia. Other speakers at the ceremony include; David Kujabi and Saidou AM Bah, the public relation officer (PRO) of The Gambia Police Force and Gambia Immigration Department respectively. The duo called on Liberians in the Gambia to respect and abide by the laws of the Gambia.

Hamilton S Hamma, the chairman of the Liberian community in the Gambia delivered the vote of thanks.