The protection of Monkey Park has raised concerns among Gambian environmentalists. This is because of the role of the park as a major tourist attraction in the country and its protection as a gazetted land during the first republic. The Gambia is known for its friendly nature and its diverse ecosystem. In the present international tourist market, the Gambia has fewer products to showcase when compared to our neighbouring countries. Looking at these circumstances, it is not wise for us to sacrifice the few and most attractive structures in the country.

According to Modou Sowe a Gambian environmentalist and formers Executive Director of the Gambia Association for Nature and Biodiversity, the Gambian youth needs to stand firm to protect the Monkey Park for the future of the country. if the Government is interested in the short-term gains from the revenue that will be incurred from the sales of the park, the youth need to draw their attention to their future. Previously, it was the construction of the OIC Conference hall which we collectively protested against until we were assured by experts that the Monkeys will relocate to the nearby WALIC Campus.

Recently, the Gambia Government has decided to sell the remaining 10 hectares of land to the US government for the construction of a new embassy. The construction of any structure in this area means the loss of one of the most biodiverse areas in the country. Hence, it also means the loss of a major tourist attraction in the country. Have the Government ever thought of this? Tourism contributes over 20% of the Nation’s GDP and is also the second highest employer in the country. only this is enough reason for the government to promote the development and protection of any structure or activity that either directly or indirectly promotes tourism.

For the Gambian youths, I urged you to stand together and protect the most prestigious land in the country in terms of tourism and the nation’s GDP. Do not use violence to protect anything for your country because we only know when to start it but cannot even assume when and how will it end. Keep engaging the engaging stakeholders including the US embassy, Gambia government, Gambia Tourism Board, hotels and tourist restaurants. I remain hopeful that the Gambia Environmental Alliance, Climate Watch – Gambia and Green Up will continue to the cause. This is the time I always remember the words of the Late Senator John “fighting a cause greater than oneself” and “we are in the era of selfless service and that is what we owe our nation”.  We are not fighting for our personal gains rather we are fighting to protect our national income and GDP. I urged youths to protect the monkey park through dialogue. Everything can be solved through dialogue and we should be aware that once the embassy is constructed at this location it is no more considered Gambian territory rather it is part of the US, therefore, everything we can do everything now but not later. We have only one focus which is to let the embassy be allocated another area. The US government is the leader and main supporter of the Paris agreement and should fully respect and consider the agreement to protect Monkey Park. I, therefore, joined the voices to call on the US Government and US Ambassador in The Gambia to reconsider their decision. We have many ideal and suitable locations. The Gambia Government should respect the gazetted and protected sanctuary since 1951.

 

When asked about his former organization and his recent firing, Modou said I am no more part of them I will not like to speak about the Gambia Association for Nature and Biodiversity (GANB). I wish them all the best in their endeavours. He thanks the Board of Directors for their trust and support in the office. They have provided me with a lot of support and protection during my tenure in office and I fully understand their stand in protecting their source of funding for the organization. I don’t have to be selfish and I believed sometimes to love is to let go.

am looking into the future and how to protect myself against the laws and accusations levied on me. I am no more staff, however, I will never speak negatively or destroy a foundation that I created, he concluded about GANB. We will be missing but we have many strong environmentalists in the country to replace us while away.

COP 15 Part 2, has taught me a lot and it reaffirms my commitment to protecting nature and promoting biodiversity.

I will love to see the best US Embassy constructed in the Gambia and I have nothing against the US embassy. I will love to see them continue the support they have started in the country to continue especially with the USD28 Million. I was happy to see such initiatives to support agriculture, honestly, I studied the best part of my leadership from them in 2018/19 I was nominated among the 10 most prominent young leaders of the World by the McCain Institute for International Leadership. This was a program initiated by the late Senator John McCain and continued by his wife Cindy McCain. It was in this program I learned to appreciate the importance of biodiversity in agriculture and decided to promote agroecology.  

I urged our youths to stand firm through peaceful means and dialogue with stakeholders to protect the Monkey Park and to Protect the tourism sector of the Gambia in the future. He concluded.