The
National Assembly Select Committee on Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports
has observed that Kunta Kinteh Island at Juffureh needs urgent rehabilitation
to restore the country’s historical site from the threats of sea erosion.
They
thus called on the National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC) through the
Ministry of Tourism and Culture to move swiftly to restore the historical site,
which they acknowledged also serves as tourists’ attraction for thousands of
visitors who annually visit the country.
During
the committee’s recent visit to the site as part of its oversight functions to
visit institutions under its purview, Alhagie S. Darboe, member for Brikama
North, lamented that the current state of the historical island leaves much to
be desired and thus called on government to do something about it.
“If
the government didn’t do something to restore the place, sea erosion would
eventually take over the island which is going to be big loss to the country’s
economy.”
Hon.
Darboe, who doubles as the chairman of the Select Committee on Tourism, Arts,
Culture, Youth and Sports, added that most of the tourists come to The Gambia
to see the relics of the Roots village of Juffureh and to explore the history
of Kunta Kinteh.
“So if sea is taking over the island, it will
be very difficult for the tourists to know the history of Kunta Kinteh and his
island and we all know that without history you will not know the past events.”
Kawsu
Dawda Jawara, member for Upper Fulladu West and the vice chairman to the
committee also lamented over the fast-depleting condition of the famous island
due to sea erosion, noting that the situation of Kunta Kinteh Island is a cause
for concern.
The
historical island, he said, is now facing serious threats from sea erosion,
which he said, is seriously affecting the area that serves as tourists
attraction at the historical island.
He
reiterated his chairman’s call on government to put all necessary measures in
place to rescue the island and to prevent important historical sites from the
brink of extinction.
The
Upper Fulladu lawmaker cited that countries like Senegal, Ghana and Egypt,
which put a lot of emphasis in protecting and restoring historical relics
should be emulated.
“These
countries didn’t joke with their historical sites because that is the place
where the government generates its revenue from and The Gambia also can do the
same by restoring the country’s historical places, so as to attract more
tourists and at the same time create job opportunities for the Gambian youth”.
Lamin
Trawally, a local tour guide at Kunta Kinteh Island equally called on the
committee on Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports at the National Assembly
through the Ministry of Tourism to come to Juffureh and build a destination
centre that will attract more tourists into the country.
He
observed that most tourists that cross from Barra go all the way to Fatala in
Senegal, because The Gambia doesn’t have a destination centre.
Mr.
Trawally explained in detail some of the major challenges facing Juffureh and
called on government to swiftly intervene to provide a remedy to those
problems.
Some
of the challenges range from road infrastructure, water and electricity, toilet
facilities and a jetty that would transport tourists from Juffureh to the Kunta
Kinteh Island.
