“The development in Kiang West alone covers over 100 kilometres of roads. By 2026, I assure you that every village will have electricity,” Barrow declared.
Imam Baba Gassama of Kaiaf urged the President to prioritise the completion of the village hospital and to address pressing challenges such as access to clean water.
Speaking on behalf of the acting Alkalo, Madi Sanneh praised President Barrow for rapidly transforming Kiang within a short period. He highlighted the peace, stability, and development witnessed under the current administration, while appealing for the construction of the road linking Sankandi to the interior. He noted that the Kabada road had already eased many difficulties for residents.
Lady Councillor Mama Sowe thanked the President for the roads and electrification projects in Kabada. She called for additional support in electricity supply, community gardens, water provision, and the construction of the Nyoro Jataba–Madina Angalleh road.
Isatou Darboe, Lady Councillor for Kiang West, urged the President to expand road construction further. She recalled how residents once had to contend with dust and poor roads, but said those days were now behind them thanks to Barrow’s leadership. She also thanked Health Minister Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh for his support in Kiang.
Demba Qcell reflected on the transformation of Kiang under Barrow’s administration, noting that the area had never had feeder roads or electricity poles before. He urged the Minister for Health to ensure Kabada receives a well-equipped hospital.
Bakary Drammeh expressed gratitude for the massive development in Kiang West, remarking that improved roads now make it possible to travel to Kombo for breakfast and return the same day. He added that ice blocks, once selling at 50 dalasis, are now readily available thanks to better infrastructure.
Governor Seedy Lamin Bah revealed plans to transform the Lower River Region into an economic zone, with 60 factories expected to create over 1,000 jobs.
Agriculture Minister Demba Sabally urged farmers and cattle owners to resolve disputes amicably. He highlighted ongoing agricultural interventions, including tomato paste processing facilities, cold storage, warehouses, fertilisers, and free ploughing services. Tankular, he said, will benefit from a 60-hectare solar irrigation project, enabling year-round farming. He also announced that three smart gardens in Kiang are nearly complete, while 10 communities will soon receive rice milling machines under the P2R project.
Health Minister Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh outlined the government’s achievements in healthcare, noting that 16 hospitals have been built, with 10 more planned for next year. Drug centres are under construction, while hospitals in Kiang West, Kiang Jali, and Kiang Karantaba have been upgraded with new medical equipment.
He also praised the introduction of community ambulances, which have eased the burden on pregnant women who previously relied on donkey carts for transport.
Sare Ngai Meeting, Lower Fulladou West District
Alkalo Musa Baldeh commended the nationwide progress registered under Barrow’s administration but urged the President to extend more focus to Fulladou District. He appealed for improved water supply, the upgrading of local schools, and the construction of roads leading to rice fields.
Chief Modou Lamin Baldeh of Lower Fulladou West also thanked the President for agricultural support, including the provision of rice harvesters and other equipment.
Women’s representative Kumba Dansira praised the government for introducing mechanised farming tools, noting that women no longer rely on manual labour for rice cultivation. She asserted that with the right equipment, “CRR South and North can feed the entire country.”
Haruna Gassama, speaking on behalf of farming communities, expressed appreciation for government-backed projects such as ROOTS. He said seeds and ploughing are no longer a challenge, and drying floors provided by the government have eased post-harvest processing.
Health and Infrastructure Concerns
Maneh Sama highlighted water shortages in some Upper Fulladou West villages and thanked the First Lady for supporting the construction of an accident and emergency ward at Bansang Hospital. He appealed for road construction linking interior villages such as Sololo, Jahanka, Bantanto, Sare Bakary, YBK and Galleh Manda. He also urged for a new ambulance, citing a recent accident involving Daru Ward’s referral vehicle.
Youth representative Ebrima Jallow called for road improvements and urged the Agriculture Ministry to renovate the veterinary centre, which he claimed lacks medication. He noted that the village comprises 60 communities but has only nine taps, insufficient for the growing population and livestock.
Local Government and Lawmakers
Sulayman Sawaneh, Chairman of Janjangbureh Area Council, outlined the council’s contributions despite limited resources, including the digging of eight boreholes, rehabilitation of women’s gardens, and support for youth-led initiatives.
Area lawmaker Gibbi Mballow thanked President Barrow for upgrading Brikamaba Hospital with an investment of over D100 million. He appealed for roads linking villages to rice fields and urged support for women in Lower Fulladou through macroeconomic initiatives. He also called for the return of Chinese experts to assist in rice production.
Dr Demba Sabally, the minister for Agriculture stated that (CRR South) remain the country’s largest hub for rice production and the focus of the government’s biggest agricultural investments.
He revealed that Jahally Pacharr alone covers 2,400 hectares, where the government has constructed over 100 water gates and 11 culverts to support irrigation and farming activities. In addition, a brand-new combine harvester and a resavator boat have been provided to enhance productivity.
Through the Regional Value Chain Project, he said the Jahally Pacharr cluster has benefitted from four brand-new tractors, three resavator boats and four power tillers, all donated at no cost.
"The government, in partnership with the Regional Value Chain, has also allocated 412 hectares of the Pacharr swamps to the Chinese under the Genoga Project, valued at D180 million. Meanwhile, the ROOTS Project has evaluated over 500 hectares in Pacharr, worth more than US$4 million."
"The Ministry of Agriculture has further supported the private rice growers’ association with two tractors, five resavators, two combine harvesters, five power tillers, four rice planters and five drying floors."
"Beyond Jahally Pacharr, the government has donated a brand-new combine harvester and two resavator boats to the people of Jangburreh. Soldiers working in the swamps have also received a combine harvester to aid their farming efforts."
"Additionally, Maize IP, a private rice production company, has been provided with a combine harvester to strengthen its operations."
Presidential response
President Barrow reaffirmed his government’s commitment to agriculture, describing the Central River Region as “the country’s food basket.” He said millions have been invested in the sector with the aim of ending rice importation. He assured residents that Fulladou will benefit from road construction and other infrastructure projects.
Barrow also highlighted the First Lady’s investment of D27 million in an accident and emergency ward at Bansang Hospital, alongside maternity wards in various hospitals nationwide. He pointed to the installation of high-quality medical equipment at Bansang Hospital as part of efforts to improve healthcare services in the region.
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