Hon. Baboucarr Bouy was responding to an appeal from one Baba Kanagi, an Islamic scholar from Jarra Sukukung during the President’s Meet the People’s Tour meeting held at Welingaraba in Jarra East District, Lower River Region when he made the remarks.
“President Barrow, I am here on behalf of The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC) to appeal to your government to allocate monthly salaries for Imams like the Alkalolus,” Imam Kanagi entreated.
According to Imam Kanagi, government should consider allocating monthly salaries for Imams considering the pivotal roles Imams play within our communities, adding that most Imams struggle financially to feed their families.
In responding to Imam Kanagi’s appeal, Hon Bouy explained that Imams in The Gambia are not included in The Gambia government pay structure and cannot therefore be paid monthly salaries.
“It is not that government do not recognise the services Imams are rendering within our communities but the reality is that, Imams are not captured in the government pay structures,” Minister Bouy added.
The Local Government overseer minister further explained that alkalolus are receiving monthly salaries because they are working directly with government.
On the issue of the sustainability of projects in the Upper and Central River Regions, Minister Bouy challenged Governors, Chiefs and Alkalolus within the said regions to be development oriented in order to sustain the project when they phase-out within their various communities.
“Governors, Chiefs and Alkalolus are the ones working with people at the grassroots level, so to see the sustainability of the projects within their communities is purely in their hands,” minister Bouy concluded.
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