“We lack a whole lot of necessities in this village, including potable water, electricity and good roads, and we are citizens of this country,” he told journalists, urging government intervention.
Chorr explained that since Jalikassa was founded about a century ago, residents have never received any form of government support. He noted that while ChildFund has provided some assistance, including the establishment of an Early Childhood Development (ECD) school, the community remains deprived of basic infrastructure.
Fishing is the main livelihood in Jalikassa, yet Chorr said villagers have struggled for years without government support to enhance their activities. “We pay our licences as required by law, but government support has never reached us. We struggle to buy our own fishing gear,” he complained.
He added that this was the first time he had spoken to journalists about the hardships faced by his community. “It is high time to speak out. This is the first time I am speaking to journalists about the challenges we encounter in our daily lives,” he said.
Chorr further expressed frustration that development projects often stop at Faraba, the neighbouring community, without extending to Jalikassa. “All of us pay our taxes as required, so why are we left behind?” he asked.
He urged President Barrow to prioritise Jalikassa’s needs, noting that although senior government officials visited the village three months ago, residents are yet to hear back from them.
The ChildFund annual media tour, held in February/March, is designed to provide donors and development partners with an independent account of the successes of ChildFund’s interventions.
In Jalikassa, however, the tour highlighted the stark reality of a community still struggling for basic services despite decades of existence.
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