Hon. Manjang made the remarks on Saturday at the National Environment Agency ground during the handing over of 20 tricycles to her ministry by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The tricycles with a capacity of 2.5 tons each aim to enhance waste collection and contribute to addressing waste management challenges as well as promote cleaner and healthier environments with the capital city, Banjul being the starting point for their operations.
The Environment Minister stated that President Barrow is concerned and has the high political will to engage and work towards ensuring The Gambia is clean.
She noted that there is no point having beautiful structures when our environment is messy.
“A sick nation is nowhere to be developed. We have to be cleaned to be healthy and developed. Cleanliness is a must and we have to make it our priority,” she said, while assuring donors that they will make best use of the tricycles.
She also said that waste is central to challenges surrounding climate change and as such it is important that they do not only collect waste but do it effectively and efficiently.
Madam Manjang highlighted that if there is anywhere they should join hands to clean, it is the capital city, Banjul because the most important point of call for state visitors is our State House.
She further assured the ECOWAS Commission that they will do their best to make sure in a very short time the entry point of our capital city, all the way to State House is exceptionally clean and green.
She admitted that The Gambia is challenged with waste collection, management and disposal. She therefore implored Councils who are directly mandated to collect, manage and dispose waste to do more.
“It is with delight that we engage with ECOWAS to support Gambia’s efforts in mitigating the chronic challenge of waste collection, disposal and sustainable management,” she said while thanking ECOWAS Commission for taking the lead in giving them solutions to their chronic waste challenge.
Mrs Massandjé Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS Commission said uncollected waste contaminates the beautiful beaches of our coastal cities and oceans, clogs storm water drains and causes flooding.
She added that unhygienic conditions are breeding grounds for mosquitoes, leading to an upsurge in crippling diseases such as malaria and yellow fever.
She thanked Hon. Manjang for her efforts in the relentless fight against unsanitary conditions.
