KMC Denies Financial Crisis

The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), Gambia's biggest council, has refuted allegations that the council is currently in serious financial crisis.

Pa Kalipha Sanyang, KMC's Public Relations Officer, maintained that this is never the condition as purported when this paper went to the council yesterday to take in the council's side of the story over allegations that the council is really in serious financial crisis.

Recent reports have it that the Kanifing Municipal Council is currently facing serious financial crisis, the state of affairs which reassuringly illustrates the sustenance of what many describe as the gloomiest days of the council, as well as bring about a crisis of confidence in KMC.

Sources said the municipality has to turn to the banks for overdraft to be able to pay last month's salaries.

"Even the tractors can no longer go around to collect garbage as usual because the municipality cannot foot the bill of fuel for them," the sources said.

According to PRO Sanyang, during this time of the year (lean period) the council receives not much money.

He explained that the peak period, a time when the council usually collects much, runs from January to July. He noted that usually towards the last quota of the financial year, the cash flow goes down naturally.

"The council however remains as solid as ever and we are living up to expectations both in terms of service delivery and overhead expenditures. Never in the history of this council was an overdraft obtained to pay salaries. We had paid salaries as early as the 25th of this month and the tractors are busily serving their purpose.

He revealed that the council is owed well over D70, 000, 000.00 (seventy million) in arrears, which he maintained is negatively impacting on the operations of the council.