A water solar project valued at over one million dalasis was recently inaugurated in Somita village in Foni Brefet district, West Coast Region.
The project, sponsored by the Dutch Foundation Help - The Gambia, includes 21 stand taps, change of boreholes, and repairing of tanks and inverters.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the Honorary Consul of the
She commended the foundation, saying it had implemented another “timely and urgently needed” water project.
"The project is contributing to achieving the MDGS by 2015, of which clean drinking water, in a closed distribution network to prevent illness, is a priority," she said.
According to her, the project entails the expansion of the Somita community solar water pumping system, repairs to the tank which was installed in 1990, placement of a new solar driven pump in the existing borehole with a much higher capacity than the old pump that was beyond repair, and putting in place a 4km water distribution network.
The D1 million project, he said, would provide clean drinking water to an additional four thousand people in the community of Somita, while thanking those who contributed in one way or the other to the successful implementation of the project.
Speaking earlier, the National Assembly Member for Foni Brefet, Bintanding Jarju, said he was happy to have such a project in his region, as it will help the community with safe-drinking water.
"I have no doubt that the people of Somita will maintain this project since they have already started manifesting it," she added.
For his part, Alhagie Jabbi, head of the Rural Water Supply project who represented the director of Water Resource at the function, said the government aims at improving the wealth of the population by providing them with safe-drinking water.
"In this context, the people of Somita have been provided with safe-drinking water since 1998," he revealed, saying that the government so far had provided safe-drinking water for up to 70 per cent of the population.
Mr Jabbi also urged the people to open a special account for the maintenance of the solar system. In his remarks on the occasion, the ward councillor of Somita, who doubles as the chairman of BAC, Sunkary Badjie, thanked the donors for the love they have for the country and her people.
He assured the donors that the people of Somita would try their level best to ensure the project is sustainable.
Other speakers on the occasion, included the CEO of Sulayman Junkung Jammeh General Hospital in Bwiam, Kebba Badjie, and the Chief of Foni Brefet.
