"Mayors cannot discipline, cannot promote or employ, and cannot spend so where are the powers of the mayors in The Gambia?" she asked during her testimony before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry (LGCI).
Mayor Lowe, who was elected in 2018, made the remarks while testifying on various aspects of BCC’s governance, including nominations, budgeting, council meetings, and administrative procedures.
The Mayor said BCC comprises 13 councilors, nine of whom are elected and four nominated.
She explained that some of the nominations came after Banjul youth submitted a written request for his appointment.
Mayor Lowe stated that she formally wrote to the Ministry of Local Government to inform them of the nominations, which were later approved. However, when asked to produce the letter and ministry’s response, she said the documents may be with the council’s administrative staff but promised to provide them.
On council operations, Mayor Lowe noted that general meetings are held monthly. The council has five standing committees: Finance, Works, Appointments, Youth and Sports, and one other she could not recall. These committees, she said, are appointed by the general council.
She acknowledged that the council did not have formal standing orders in 2018 but said efforts to develop them began with assistance from lawyer Sassoum Sillah. Correspondence on the matter, she confirmed, was handled by the council’s CEO.
A four to five year strategic plan was also created in 2018, which she said was discussed at the council level.
In terms of legislation guiding BCC’s operations, Lowe cited the Local Government Act and mentioned the incorporation of good governance practices, such as community donations and scholarship programs. She acknowledged a functioning budget line and said financial matters are guided by the Finance and Audit Act.
However, she clarified that the power to authorize expenditure lies with the CEO, not the mayor. While she can advise on spending decisions, actual implementation is left to the administrative leadership. “If the CEO comes to me and I say no, he can still go ahead if he wants,” she admitted.
