Renewed Call for Good Roads

While there are many actions on what is real in the world development, perhaps the most revealing gauge is tracked in terms of time and priority.

We are seriously into the rainy season, a time when most of our roads become a major concern and topical issue in many corners of the country.

Thus far, every year we convey that calls of distress are being raised by the general public as regards to the poor state of certain roads not only within the Greater Banjul Area but also some parts of the rural areas. Even the lowliest mind would appreciate that the Central Government couldn't reach every corner of the country. We believe that is why decentralisation was brought about and certain burdens shifted to the Area Councils. People pay taxes to be provided with necessary services and infrastructure.

We expect only the best from the area councils.

In as much as these Councils have been established to serve the Gambian people endeavouring to develop The Gambia, so they must strive to correctly reflect the needs and demands of the people, and fairly meet their demands, and faithfully discharge the mission of setting about the necessary projects.

During the last rainy season, visits to certain areas presented a daunting nightmare. The incidence of potholes and small 'lakes', as some of these have been more than just puddles, were overwhelming not presenting any options to pedestrians and vehicles alike other than to wade through the water mass. Pedestrians have been seen to have their garments completely drenched with water and covered in mud. Some vehicles have had to be parked at mid-stream because of hard start or failed exhausts. Then there is the occasional sight of a vehicle fallen off the shoulder of the road or falling on its side. The incidences of mishaps can be more varied than this. We therefore once again renew our call to the area councils for necessary and urgent upgrading of some of the more dangerous of these roads and save all the inconvenience and mishaps to pedestrians and motor drivers, who by the way have paid their taxes for such conveniences.

We want to reiterate that every effort should be employed in putting our roads in good state with all possible haste.

"Do not look back. And do not dream about the future, either. It will neither give you back the past, nor satisfy your other day dreams. Your duty, your reward - your destiny - are hear and now."

Dag Hammarskjold