The Chief Executive Officer of Vision Development Foundation (VDF), Modou Turo Darboe, has said that he was inspired by the Kanilai Group International (KGI) to embark on road rehabilitation within the Kanifing Municipality, stressing that without the support of KGI, he would not have been able to do so.
“Yes, we all have a role to play towards the development of this country, but I can say that without the support of KGI and its manager, Pa Bojang, who has always given us the support, we would not have been able to do what we are doing today,” Darboe said in an interview with this reporter Saturday during a road rehabilitation exercise in Tallinding.
Turo Darboe, who has always stressed that his foundation has no boundary whenever it comes to issues of nation-building, said the road rehabilitation exercise, which has also been carried out in Tabokoto, Fajikunda and Latrikunda Sabiji in collaboration with KGI, is mainly geared towards complementing the efforts of government in nation-building.
“We are not doing this because of politics, because the VDF has over the years embarked on projects with the sole objective of complementing the efforts of government,” he said, adding that they are not doing the road rehabilitation because of the forthcoming local government election.
“I am not looking for any position, but doing this for the sake of God and humanity; at the same time following the footsteps of my father and complementing the efforts of government, because we all have a role to play in nation-building,” he stated.
Darboe further stated that his target is to make sure that his foundation in collaboration with KGI fills all the necessary gaps for proper road maintenance, in the interest of Gambians and the country, in particular.
Nation-building, Turo Darboe added, should not be left in the hands of the government alone, as everybody needs to contribute his or her quota to it.
“So, therefore, people should not see our efforts as politics,” he noted.
While lauding the people for their turnout since the inception of the exercise, the VDF CEO said his foundation has gone beyond the country, moving as far as Casamance helping the poor and needy and their communities.
He renewed his foundation’s continued commitment in collaboration with the KGI to embark on more development processes, and serve humanity free of charge, all geared towards enabling them live in a healthy environment.
Also speaking to this reporter at the exercise was Ousman Fatty, former councillor of Latrikunda ward, who said the road rehabilitation exercise should not be a surprise to Gambians, in the sense that VDF has over the years contributed its quota to national development.
Fatty went on to call on other businessmen and philanthropists to emulate his contribution to national development.
Isatou Jallow, a restaurant operator in Tallinding, expressed appreciation to VDF and KGI for what she described as a timely intervention, noting that due to the poor state of the road before, people found it difficult to use it.
Modou Lamin Bah, a baker, recalled some of the difficulties they face during the rainy season in getting access to their bakery, adding that the road rehabilitation will go a long way in make life easy for them.
Mustapha Njie, a 65-year-old man and also a resident of Tallinding, thanked the VDF and the KGI for the move, noting that the road has been a major concern to the people of Tallinding.