KMC Disaster Committee disburses D150, 000 to ward councillors

Thirteen wards in the Kanifing Municipality on Tuesday received cheques for the total amount of D150, 000.

The cheques were presented by the KMC disaster management committee who received the funds from the IRISH-Aid project through Concern Universal.

Speaking at the presentation held at the KMC grounds, Musa Mendy, chairman of the KMC disaster management committee, explained that the funds were provided by the IRISH-Aid through Concern Universal to the KMC disaster management committee to implement their work plans in the respective wards.

He said that thirteen wards were identified and their councillors trained at the local level through the disaster management committee to work on their action plans.

He said the work plans were done and the committee had looked into them and studied it very well.

According to him, the money they are to receive is meant to implement their work plans in their respective wards.

For his part, Lamin S. Tamba from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) commended the councillors for coming up with their work plans.

This will serve as a guideline for their work, he said, while advising the beneficiaries to use the money for its intended purpose.

He also spoke on the need for collective work to mitigate disasters in the country, and used the occasion to thank the donors for helping the people of The Gambia.

“There is need to respect this money which will yield something at the end of the day,” he said.

He as well advised the beneficiaries to be providing report on their work plan, which, he said, “is very important as it will go a long way in helping you especially in gathering data”.

Speaking on behalf of the Mayor of KMC, Sheriff Sarr, councillor of Old Jeshwang Ward, said he was delighted, and showed appreciation to the donors for the money.

“This money will go a long way in helping the beneficiaries in the mitigation of disaster,” he said.

Mr Sarr noted that the money would help them in implementing their various work plans.

He also challenged other councillors to open accounts for their wards to ensure transparency.