Barrow vows to connect Kiang communities by infrastructural development

Kiang, in the Lower River Region (LRR), has been a place that has been neglected for the past decades especially during the former regime due to their political stance in opposing the government of former president Jammeh.

Due to this and other factors, the area has not  benefitted from meaningful socioeconomic development and other services. For the 22 years of the Jammeh regime, no community in the area benefited from electricity supply. The road network within the area has also been in bad condition, thereby making it difficult to reach certain communities in the Kiang interior.

However, President Barrow has vowed to change the trajectory, saying Kiang would continue to enjoy more development in his government.

Speaking at a well attended meeting held at Sankandi village in the Kiang West District of LRR, Barrow said: “Kiang has been a place in the country that overwhelmingly voted for me in the 2016 presidential election. Therefore, I will never forget about them in terms of developmental projects.”

The area, he said, will continue to enjoy more projects of roads, hospitals and others.

Responding to issues raised by local dwellers about lack of fuel for some communities’ ambulances stationed in the communities, he said: “The government is aware of the issues and that’s why the community ambulances across the country will now be under the Riders for Health,” he stated.

Barrow promised to address the water shortage in the area and also construct more roads in Kiang with a view to enhancing access to education, health services and also boost trade and agriculture within the area.

Hon. Yunusa Bah, a resident of the area, acknowledged the rapid development brought in the area by the Barrow government.

Kiang, he went on, has been neglected for the past 50 years both under the previous two governments of Jawara and Jammeh, adding: “It’s through the Barrow government that electricity, clean and potable drinking water and good roads have started coming. Therefore, it’s also important that we also redouble our unflinching support to his government so as to enable us to have more development.”

President Barrow’s infrastructural development, he continued, is not based on political affiliation, saying: “Despite the fact that Kiang has not been very supportive to the government, Barrow continues to improve the area by building standard roads, hospitals among others. Therefore, it’s also important that we also change and support the government development agenda.”

Bah equally called on President Barrow to address the water problem in Kiang Central and Kiang West.

Health Minister Ahmadou Lamin Samateh  also highlighted the various projects taken to the area by the current government, adding: “Due to the bad roads in the area before, pregnant women would find it difficult to reach hospital early, resulting in some of them facing severe complications.”

Samateh recalled an incident involving a pregnant woman within the area, saying: “There was a pregnant woman in a certain village in Kiang and the lady needed immediate medical attention. However, due to the bad road, coupled with the lack of mobility, the lady had to wait until the following day in order to go to the hospital.”

He added: “In fact, there was a commercial vehicle in that village, but the driver claims that he was tired thus he couldn’t drive at night.”  Something he said has now become a thing of the past due to the on-going road construction in the Kiang.

Speaking to journalists after a conducted tour of a road construction site in Kiang, Barrow said: “I am very happy to be constructing these roads. I am also grateful to my team and this is a big achievement for Gambians, especially those in Kiang. There was nothing happening in Kiang in terms of development. When we were coming here for meetings, it was difficult to reach some communities.

“These are main highways and after completion, it will boost economic activities in the area, thereby facilitating trade among other businesses. Again, I have made it very clear that I am elected as the president of all Gambians irrespective of the people supporting me or not, because at the end, they are all paying taxes. Thus my development agenda will reach all communities across the country.”