The Mayor of Miami Visits Banjul
The Mayor of Banjul RoheyMalick low on Wednesday welcomed The Mayor of North Miami Dr Alix Desulme, who was accompanied by Kionne L McGhee Miami-Dade County Commissioner, county officials and representatives from the Aviation, Port of Miami at the never again arch in Banjul for a signing ceremony of a “Sister City” agreement.
The Mayor of North Miami Alix Desulme and his delegation are on a two-day business development and cultural mission. The mission is organised by the Diaspora Arts Coalition in partnership with The Gambian American Foundation.
The Mayor of North Miami Alix Desulme expressed gratitude for the warm welcome that him and his delegation received and thanked his colleagues that join him in his journey to The Gambia and said that this partnership between the two sister cities will be an example for other mayors.
He further said that Banjul is the first sister city that he would be working with after having an award from South Africa.
During the signing ceremony, The Mayor of Banjul Rohey Malick Low emphasized that both Banjul and North Miami are coastal cities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and that it is essential that they address these challenges together.
“may our Sister City program between Banjul and North Miami be a catalyst for climate resiliency, inspiring change and progress far beyond our borders.” She said
Mayor Low referred back to last year’s flood that happened in Banjul, and said: “last year residents lost properties, infrastructures were damaged and there was even loss of lives. Rising sea levels, extreme weather conditions, and changing erratic rainfall patterns that threatened our communities, our ecosystems, and our economies.Farmers couldno longer determined for sure the start of the planting season. This affected ourfood security not only in Banjul but across the Country.”
Mayoress Low also highlighted that Banjul has a high youthful population and that It is not an easy task to find jobs for them as they are technologically oriented and therefore, they need to focused more on getting the youths to gain more expertise in the areas of digital technology and why not Artificial Intelligence.
“In the City of Banjul women are mainly involve in economic activities to support their families through fishing and petty trading activities andit is an open secret that most of the commercial activities are now going online and women of Banjul need to join in this fast-moving system otherwise they will be left behind.” He outlined
She further thanked Dr. Mariama Jaiteh and Mr. Michael Nicole who she said are the people at the background to bring this Sister City program since her visit to Miami in 2019.
