20 February 2008
President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh was present for the nation's celebration of Gambia's 43rd anniversary last Monday, taking place in the capital Banjul.
In his speech, the president expressed his enthusiasm for the country's future and explained that: "Political independence cannot be divorced from the scale, scope, depth and level of development it generates and the value it adds to the life of each individual that is directly affected by it," the Daily Observer reports.
President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa of Zambia and president Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires of Cape Verde were also invited for the event which took place at July 22nd Square.
The day marked the celebration of past achievements such as considerable improvements in medical fields.
The Gambia gained political independence and elected its first prime minister in 1965.
HRH Queen Elizabeth remained Gambia's Head of State until 1970 after which time it became a republic.
In 1970 Sir Dauda Jawara was elected Gambia's first president, while 1994 marked the start of the second republic with president Jammeh.
