The Managing Director of Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) has assured livestock dealers that priority would be given to them with their animals at the ferry crossing points during the forthcoming Tobaski ram sale.
Lamin Sanyang gave the assurance while responding to the concerns raised by the livestock dealers regarding the difficulties they encounter at the ferry crossing points with their animals.
“We have already put all the logistics for the livestock owners to facilitate the smooth ferry crossing with their animals,” GPA MD Sanyang said.
He said prior to the concern raised by the livestock dealers, a meeting was called at the Ministry of Trade ad the GPA was there by the director of operations and the director of revenue generation – ferries.
“I assigned them to go and attend the meeting and attest that all things that are needed by the livestock dealers would be provided to them,” Mr Sanyang said.
He emphasised that the issue of ferry crossing would not be a problem this year. But he advised ram dealers to arrange their livestock in a single carrier like a truck for easy facilitation of ferry crossing.
The GPA MD also advised the dealers to cooperate with the staff working at the ferry crossing points.
“The GPA staff is ready and willing to live up to expectations in delivering goods and services to their customers,” Mr Sanyang said.
The Gambia livestock dealers association recently lamented the delays they used to face at the ferry crossing points when the Tobaski is approaching.
It was because of these difficulties that the livestock dealers appealed to the management of the Gambia Ports Authority, through their managing director, to give them priority at the ferry crossings.
They explained that most of their animals die there [at ferry crossing points] as a result of the difficulties they used to encountered there especially at the Barra-Banjul ferry terminal.