Ismaila Sambou, the secretary of state for Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs, on Monday, received a cheque for D299,760 from the Kerewan Area Council, as its second counterpart contribution for the construction of the new Farrafenni Market.

The cheque was handed over by Alhaji Lamin Ceesay, the chairman of that council, at a meeting held  on Monday, in Kerewan, during the Dialogue With the People’s Tour of the president.

Mr Ceesay informed the gathering that KAC had paid the sum of D250,000 as the first counterpart fund towards the construction at the beginning of the contract. He sent an appeal, through SoS Sambou, to President Jammeh, for the provision of more vehicles to carry out some social services for the community of Farrafenni.

Issues Six Months Ultimatum for Completion

The President, Alhagi Dr. Yahya Jammeh, has expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace at which the Barra- Amdallai road project is progressing and has issued a six- month ultimatum for the completion of the project.

The Gambian leader showed his disappointment while speaking on Monday shortly after inspecting the project site in North Bank Region as part of his ‘Dialogue with the people tour’.

Also speaking at a meeting in Kerewan, North Bank Region, President Jammeh voiced out strong views on his call for people to go back to the land, reiterating that unless Gambians change their attitudes and heed his ‘back to the land call’, things would continue to be difficult for them. “My coming here is because I am the agriculture Minister, to know your problems, and also to thank you people for the past election,” he explained.

According to President Jammeh, Gambian people tend to gripe about hardship in the country but they have no one to blame for such a situation other than themselves. “We are sitting and saying that things are difficult, but foreigners are coming here, striving and making lots of money and returning home. When I called for people to go back to the land, people did not understand. What I foresaw at that time is what is happening presently. Where a president is farming, what should an alkalo, chief or any other person be waiting for,” he asked.

He revealed that he has already ordered 500 tractors but not for free of charge this time around because, as he put it, Gambians tend not to take anything free of charge seriously.

“On two occasions, I have provided tractors but they were not properly taken care of and they ended benefiting only few people,” he indicated.

President Jammeh also indicated that fertilizer would also be provided but not free of charge as previously. “Initially it was free of charge and people who were not even farmers used to take it and sell it across the border,” he disclosed.

He intimated that it is only the women that he could give it to on credit basis because, according to him, women are more hard working and trustworthy. Following complaints that women lack market for their produce, he promised to buy all the produce women may harvest.

Turning to the issue of high price of rice, President Jammeh explained that it is a difficult issue, but assured that from then to October, the end of the rainy season, his government would do all it takes to stabilise the price of rice.

He was however quick to add that he would not feel bothered after the rainy season with regard to the price of rice, even if a bag of rice should shot up to D10,000.

The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) recently held a two-day capacity building workshop for ward councilors on the Local Government Act 2002 Amended in Kerewan North Bank Region. The objective of the training was to equip and empower ward councilors to fully understood the content of the Local Government Act, in order to enable them know their roles and responsibilities in the administration of their functions. Speaking at the occasion the Governor North Bank Region, Eduwar Seckan, underscored the importance government attaches to the establishment of National Council for Civic Education which, among other things, will empower the citizenry to know their civic and constitutional rights. Governor Seckan described the training as timely as new councilors were elected and building their capacity will contribute immensely to the attainment of council development aspiration. Mr. Seckan urged the councilors to forget about their individual and political differences and work for the wellbeing of region.

The Chief Executive Officer of Kerewan Area Council, Alh. Tamba S. Kinteh, applauded the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) for their timely intervention in capacitating the ward councilors on the local government act, which will go a long way towards strengthening the council in its daily operations. Mr. Kinteh urged councilors to advocate and nurture the cordial relationship that exists between the council, development partners and taxpayers. The rationale of opening of ward accounts by the council is to empower Ward Development Committee to embark on resource mobilisation and start undertaking development project at ward level, therefore councilors should ensure the proper utilization of the fund for the interest of the ward.

The role of the Ward Development Committee is to coordinate development assistance, review plans and prioritise development plans. Mr. Kinteh also used the occasion to commend the outgoing councilors for their dedication, commitment and steadfastness in the execution of their function. Sainey Saho, Civic Education Officer at National Council for Civic Education, underscored the importance his office attaches to raising the awareness of ward councilors on local government acts. The amended act clearly spelt out the roles and responsibilities of councilors in relation to national development.

The Chairman of Kerewan Area Council Alh. Lamin Ceesay commended the government for the establishment of National Council for Civic Council informing and educating the councilors on the local government acts, which will enhance and facilitate the smooth operation of the council towards the attainment of its development aspirations. Chairman Ceesay urged councilors to always view Local Government Acts as user friendly, as it will always guide them to know their roles and responsibilities. Mr. Ceesay assured the electorate of the council’s continued commitment to the welfare of the people.

Information reaching The Point has it that Mr Ousman Jallow, the UDP candidate in Jokadu in the last parliamentary elections, who also contested in Kerr Jarga Ward in the just concluded Local Government elections, has been arrested. According to our North Bank Region sources, Ousman was on Monday morning arrested in Kerewan.

The sources indicated that Mr Jallow had had a meeting with the Governor of the area, Mr. Edward Seckan, apparently in the matter of an Alkaloship dispute in his village, Bantanding Wollof.

During the meeting at the Governor’s office, according to the sources, Mr. Jallow was secretly recording his conversation with the Governor.

“When Ousman Jallow stood up to leave at the end of the meeting the Governor, who became suspicious, knowingly but furtively dropped his pen on the floor and asked Mr Jallow to pick it for him. When Mr Jallow bent down to pick the pen, the recorder fell from his pocket and the police were then called to arrest him,” said the sources.

The Chief Executive Officer of Kerewan Area Council has disclosed that the dream of sustainable development cannot be achieved without positive holistic move towards proper waste management.

Tamba Kinteh made this revelation at the launch of Council’s Waste Management Strategy in Kerewan that is tailored to suit waste management and disposal problems in the North Bank Region’s towns and lumo villages.   He said the newly established strategy aims to complement the efforts of the monthly Operation Clean the Nation, which is initiated by President Jammeh.

In the North Bank Region, CEO Kinteh said his Council would be rotating every Saturday   from one town to the other or lumos where they would work hand-in-glove with communities to clean their environment.   “We would want to involve all community members as potential stakeholders,” he said.

He added that the Council has spent thousands of Dalasi in the purchase of cleansing materials, including wheelbarrow, rakes, shovels, garden forks, gloves, masks, etc. He then noted that they would hire tractors to collect waste during the clean-up exercise in towns and lumo concentrated areas.

Lamin LM Marr, Kerewan Area Council’s Development Officer, said it is the primary responsibility of the Council to provide basic service for the tax payers'. He revealed that the newly developed waste management strategy will address waste or garbage collections in all the growth centres like Farafenni and Kerewan, and other expanding communities and lumo centres.

He, on behalf of the Council appealed to the UN system, NGOs and other international and philanthropist organisations to help and provide them with tractors, and other materials that would enable them to operate effectively.

Bakary Seckan, KAC Financial Controller also appealed to the communities of North Bank region to take this noble initiative as their own. He noted that the needs of the tax payers' is the highest priority on the Council’s agenda and assured that the Council will try to satisfy the communities in terms of service   delivery.

As part of their move to give more room for young players to showcase their talents, a junior Nawettan is currently underway in Kerewan.

The tournament, organized by Kerewan Sports Committee, is currently at semi final stages.

In the first semi final played on Saturday September 1, 2007, Area Council booked their ticket to the final after eliminating Birmingham 2-1.

Area Council opened the scores in the 20th minute through Dawda Fatty.

Area Council continued to put pressure on Birmingham and registered their second goal by Ebrima Hydara.

Birmingham netted their consolation goal in the 74th minute through Pa Bakary Jawara.