The
Public Utilities and Regulatory Authority (PURA) yesterday signed a Memorandum
of Understanding with the Weights and Measures Department.
Speaking
at the signing ceremony, the Director General of PURA, Ansumana Sanneh,
disclosed that the PURA Act 2001 empowers PURA to regulate public services
including telecommunication, water and electricity and petroleum among a host
of others.
The
Petroleum Act of 2006 also mandates to PURA, a specific regulatory oversight of
the total downstream of the petroleum sector.
He
divulged that over the decades, PURA has tried to build its capacity to fulfill
its various regulatory mandates including working with partner institutions
like the Weights and Measures Department to collaborate and also share
responsibilities.
“Within
the petroleum subsector, PURA will be responsible for both setting the as well
as monitoring the standard,” he said.
He
declared that the MoU was set out so that Weights and Measures Department could
continue its mandate in this field, while PURA would be partnering with them to
ensure there is no overlap or duplication of this function.
According
to him, through the MoU, regulatory efficiency would be guaranteed for investors
and the entire business sector.
“It
is my hope that this partnership would draw similar functions of our MoU with
sister bodies like The Gambia Competition Commission, the Department of Water
Resources, the Fire and Rescue Services and other institutions,” he said.
Cherno
Njai, the controller of Weights and Measure Department, said that the MoU would
go a long way in addressing the challenges being faced by the institution and
also protecting the rights of the consumers.
He said having an association with PURA in
helping them develop in terms of equipment and other proper working mechanisms
is a thing in the right direction.
“This
is the thing we have been seeking for. Equipment is an impediment to our work
in most of the areas,” he said.
