Mayoress Lowe made this remark during the National Disaster Management Agency’ (NDMA) visit to BCC as part of its nationwide tour that aims at assessing regional stakeholders on the level of preparedness and response to the covid-19 pandemic.
The Local Government Act states that 25 percent of councils’ development funds should come from the central government.
Therefore, Mayoress Lawye said: “Central government should understand the importance of the councils and subvent them.”
She disclosed that councils are facing many financial challenges in this critical time because their revenue generation has decreased drastically as a result of the covid-19 pandemic with chilling effects on the markets.
Madam Lowe noted that no person is going to State House or knock on any minister’s door to request for financial assistance in this difficult moment, but she was quick to add that many needy are rushing to her council to request for support.
Therefore, she said government should provide subvention to the councils to enable them to respond to the public needs quickly.
It could be recalled that recently President Barrow declared a state of emergency. This affects people who depend on daily earnings for their survival as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
In reaction to this, she said if the people do not go out to search for food for their families they may perish of hunger in their houses.
“BCC has constraints but feeding my people is my concern. No matter what, we will stand side by side for our people,” she said.
She said BCC is not thinking of the aftermath of the deadly disease or the things they could get in the future but their principal concern is how to feed Banjul in this critical condition.
In response to these concerns, Sanna Dahaba, executive director of NDMA, said government has already put mechanisms in place to respond to the needs of the public with regard to covid-19 challenges in the country.
