The Central River, North Bank, and Upper River regions of
The Gambia are yet to receive money from the National Youth Council, NYC, for
failing to set dates for their congresses.
Last year, the NYC set in motion an initiative to give money to regional youth committees to support them in the holding of their triennial congresses.
The regional youth committees of the Kanifing Municipality and the West Coast Region have both received D5000 each from the Council towards the cost of their congresses.
In the same vein, Banjul and Lower River Region youth committees also received D7, 500 each. Sisawo said Banjul was given an extra D2, 500, due to technical and financial constraints on the side of the committee, totaling D7, 500.
NYC acting-Executive Secretary Abubacarr Sisawo, said they will not release any funds to any region that did not set date for their congress.
According to him, last year it was agreed at one of the Council’s meetings that the NYC should support its regional committees financially to hold their congresses.
He recalled that prior to the 2012 National Youth Conference and Festival (Nayconf), the NYC had given D50, 000 to each of the regions to support their participation. “This is a continuation of that support,” Sisawo said.
The youth committees are representatives of the Council at regional level. The committees are elected every three years, and their chairpersons are selected to serve as board members of the NYC.
The NYC was established by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to coordinate and regulate youth activities in the country and to advise the government on policies relating to youth matters.