SCENES IN A SMALL VILLAGE, SCENES IN BATHURST INCLUDING LEGISLATIVE BUILDINGS, HOSPITAL AND SCHOOL.




Initials DE/VS/RM/EEH



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Background: ON FEBRUARY 18 THE WEST AFRICAN TERRITORY OF GAMBIA BECOMES INDEPENDENT - BUT LIFE GOES ON HERE JUST AS IT HAS FOR CENTURIES. IN THE SMALL VILLAGES THE MARKET PLACE CONTINUES TO BE THE CENTRE OF COMMUNAL LIFE - WHILE IN THE NEWLY-CREATED CITY OF BATHURST, ONLY THOSE DIRECTLY CONCERNED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ARE GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE CHANGE ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE.

GAMBIA IS - BY ANY STANDARDS - A SMALL COUNTRY. IT HAS A POPULATION OF LESS THAN FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND. THE MAIN SOURCE OF WEALTH IS GROUNDNUTS AND THIS INDUSTRY WILL FORM THE BASIS OF THE YOUNG NATION'S ECONOMY.

FINANCIAL AID FROM BRITAIN HAS HELPED PROVIDE HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS IN THE TERRITORY. THE ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL IS A CORONATION GIFT FROM BRITAIN TO THE PEOPLE OF GAMBIA. THE TERRITORY BOASTS SIXTY-SEVEN PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND THIRTEEN SCHOOLS TAKING PUPILS TO MORE ADVANCED LEVELS.

OVER NINETY PER CENT OF THE POPULATION IS MUSLIM AND GAMBIA HAS A NUMBER OF ELEGANT MOSQUES GIVING AN EASTERN TOUCH TO THE SCENE.

GAMBIA'S PARLIAMENT - WHICH HAS HAD FULL CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS SINCE OCTOBER 4, 1963 - IS HOUSED IN THE MODEST LEGISLATIVE BUILDING IN BATHURST. THE OLD SECRETARIAT BUILDING NOW HOUSES THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE WILL SOON BE THE HOME OF THE FIRST GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF GAMBIA, SIR JOHN PAUL.

AS THE ONLY DEEP-SEA PORT IN GAMBIA - AND THE CAPITAL, BATHURST MUST PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE FUTURE OF GAMBIA. ON FEBRUARY 18 THIS SMALL COUNTRY BECOMES AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER OF THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH.