During
your campaign 2016, you promised the Gambian populace that your government
would bring great improvement in electricity and water supply and good ferries,
which we no doubt agree, a lot has been achieved in that area.
The
electricity supply in the rural areas has improved drastically for the past
year with the partnership of the Senegalese Electricity Company (SENELEC)
compared to before when electricity was not available or of poor service.
Mr.
President, recently, there are lots of complaints in many areas for lack of
electricity and also people lack water which is a basic necessity of life. The
service has not been satisfactory for the past few months.
Whatever
is wrong should be communicated to the general public by NAWEC. The utility
company should communicate all their problems through the local media and not
social media as majority of NAWEC consumers certainly do not have access to
social media. We wonder why that was only chosen medium to talk about this load
shedding which has affected lot of businesses including media houses.
In
October this year, The Federal Republic of Germany handed over 1.3 Million Euro
power stabilization project to Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company
(NAWEC) with a view to improving the electricity supply in the country.
Therefore, one needs to ask how far that project is on going.
France
also early this year pledged 50 million Euros to the government of The Gambia
in order to improve the water supply in the country; thus it is important for
the government or NAWEC to communicate to Gambia as to how this project is also going on.
Mr.
President, the issue of the dumpsite in Abuko that caused the closure of two
schools, leading to over 6000 students staying at home is unacceptable and
action needs to be taken soonest.
All
the authorities and stakeholders involved need to come together and find a
lasting solution to this nagging problem. The community dumping rubbish there
also needs to be addressed. They need to be told about the menace of
irresponsible dumping and they must desist from the practice. Mr. President, we
commend the KMC for the recent clearing of the roadsides by moving the side
vendors and parked cars that caused obstructions to the highway.
This
should be a continuous process and the petty traders and vendors whose daily
duties and levies are being collected should be provided with space to continue
their daily business. Mechanics and welders who do not have garages should be
cleared from the streets. Finally Mr. President, there is a serious swift in
the political arena. Your former political ‘god father’ who initially vowed to
sue anyone who challenged your five year term in office has now joined the 3
years term campaign too.
Mr.
President you too changed your mind to opt for five years as required by the
constitution.
It
should be the interest of all of you to enter dialogue for the benefit of the
nation to nurture peace. Politicians, religious leaders, human rights activists
and journalists should meet soonest with you to end this impasse.
Without
peace, nothing can happen in terms of development and businesses.
Good
day!
