Mankamang
Kunda, URR, The Gambia—In the wake of last Monday’s inferno that ravaged a
significant part of the Basse Market, Upper River Region, causing loss of
merchandise valued at millions of dalasis, President Adama Barrow on Thursday, presented cash donations to
Governor Fanta Bojang Manneh in the amount of two million dalasis ($40,000).
The
presidential largesse is for the distraught fire victims most of whom were
rendered poor by the inferno that lasted several hours despite the combined
efforts of various fire fighters within the Central and Upper River Regions.
In
a sombre statement, President Barrow appealed to Gambians, members of the
business community and humanitarian organisations to generously come to the
rescue of the fire victims most of whom have been ripped off of their lifetime
earnings within hours.
President
Barrow who lived in Basse during his formation years recalled with great
nostalgia, the significant role the town and its people contributed to his personal
development. ‘The two million dalasis I donated are from my personal funds,
they are neither the government nor my party’s and therefore, it should not be
politicised’, Mr. Barrow cautioned.
Mr.
Barrow promised that in the near future, his government will construct a modern
market equipped with all the fire hydrants and exit routes to replace the burnt
and dilapidated structures of the old market.
The
president’s D2 million donation has since been deposited into the Basse Fire
Disaster Account with AGIB Bank where several donations have since been
deposited.
Meanwhile,
in the past week, several stories have been bandied around either
misrepresenting or underreporting the exact amount of funds donated by
President Barrow. For purposes of accuracy and to keep the records straight,
there were no pledges nor installments as was falsely reported, Mr. Barrow
himself presented the D2 million to Governor Manneh in the full glare of TV and
media cameras.
Signed:
Ebrima
G Sankareh
The
Gambia Government Spokesperson
