Banjul City Council (BCC) was yesterday twinned with the Milan City Council in Italy.

Speaking at the ceremony on behalf of the lord Mayor of Banjul at the BCC chambers, the deputy mayor of Banjul, Winston Shyngle, said the twinning of the two cities would form a milestone in the foundation of a strong networking alliance. He said the aim of the alliance is to form relevant and mutually based partnerships for the realisation of vital developmental goals.

He stated that the twinning of the two cities will yield fruits.

For her part, the visiting lord mayoress of Milan, Madam Letizia Moratti, stated that the aim of the twinning is to strengthen the friendship between the two cities noting that the two cities through the partnership will look at the challenges and opportunities of both councils in order to pave the way to a fruitful partnership.

She thanked Banjul City Council for the warm hospitality accorded to her during her visit

Madam Moratti pointed out that the official signing of the twinning will be done in Italy in due coarse in which her council will invite the lord mayor of Banjul and his delegation for the official signing ceremony.

At the end of the ceremony, the lord mayor of Milan was conferred with the honorary citizenship of Banjul by the deputy mayor of Banjul Mr. Shyngle.

The vote of thanks was delivered by the Chief Executive Officer of BCC Mustapha Batchilly.

Speaking at the Graduation ceremony, the Principal of the school, Mr. Louis Mendy asserted that the school was established in the year 1995 and temporarily located in Campama Lower Basic School operating mainly in the afternoon. He said in 1998 the construction of the permanent site was completed and the school inaugurated. He said the establishment and operation of the school was carried out by BCC as the public school was the result of the government blue print for individuals NGOS, and municipalities to complement the Government’s efforts in providing quality, accessible and affordable education for the Gambian child.

Mr. Mendy pointed out that during the first year of operation the school absorbed spill in Banjul. “ These were students who passed their grade six leaving certificate examination but could not secure admission in the school of their choice due to insufficient places. Later a sizeable number of students in Banjul were making the school their first choice,” he said.

For his part, the co-ordinator of Humanity First and a computer teacher at Garba Jahumpa Upper Basic School, Mr. Mohammed Bangura, thanked the grandaunts and advised them to continue their education career in Information Technology. He said this part is just an elementary part so there is a need to go up to university level.

Mr. Bangura therefore promised the 10 most outstanding students among the gradients that his organisation will offer them a free scholarship to pursue their diploma course in Information Technology at Humanity First. He said that to compliment government efforts in making The Gambia the Silicon Valley of Africa, “Humanity First will embark on a program that will make sure that any student who passes through the Garba Juhumpa Upper Basic School should have the knowledge to use a computer,” he said.

The Graduation Ceremony was graced by National Assembly Members; Ward Councillors, students, parents, the Major of Banjul Samba Faal and also a drama troop from the school.

Following the appointment of Ms Nancy Njie as the Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Winston Shyngle, councillor for New Town West ward, has been elected as new Deputy Mayor of Banjul City Council (BCC). Mr Shyngle was last Saturday unanimously elected by his fellow councillors at BCC chambers.

In a brief interview with this paper at his office yesterday, Mr Shyngle said his priority is to make sure that roads in Banjul are rehabilitated, as well as to improve the sanitary condition in the city. He added that he would be working closely with the council and youth.

“We have lots of plans for Banjul, but this can only be achieved if people pay their tax on time to the council,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Shyngle used the opportunity to call on Banjulians to be co-operative in paying their tax and rates on time in order to attain the developmental aspirations of Banjul.

It could be recalled that from 2006 to the time of dissolution of councils three months prior to the Local Government elections, Mr. Shyngle was the Acting Deputy Mayor of BCC.

Barely three months after their appointment to steer the affairs of the capital city, the Interim Management Committee of Banjul City Council has left evident traces of remarkable achievements, the Daily Observer can reveal. Notably among these are the increase in daily revenue from D7,000 (or D8,000) to D25,000 (or D30,000).

Elaborating on these successes in an interview with the Daily Observer, Alhaji Alieu Mboge, outgoing chairman of the Interim Management Committee of BCC, said his committee collected D195,000 in a day during the Tobaski Wanterr and in December 2007, they fetched a record revenue of more than a million Dalasis.

Mr Mboge disclosed that they successfully cleared all the overdraft debts incurred by the council at the banks in the country. “We now have a cash reserve of over D2 million and a working capital of over D1 million,” he said.

Projects

On projects his committee embarked on, the redoubtable Alieu Mboge disclosed that the committee successfully revamped the abattoir at the Albert Market and also rehabilitated the feeder-road that runs from Campama Estate through the heart of the Banjul to Wilberforce Street.

He added that most of the streetlights have also been replaced with a better streetlight system.

“With the help of prominent Gambian business personalities, we were able to rehabilitate the Mayor’s Office and the conference hall of the council, which were in a poor condition,’’ he noted, adding that the monthly Set-setal was intensified and changed to a daily routine activity.

Constraints

However, Alhaji Alieu Mboge highlighted the constraints that the management committee faced in the execution of its duties, pointing to the rate collection and trade license payments as among the major ones.

He bemoaned the debts owed to the council by yard owners and some government departments, accummulating to a sum of D22 million. He appealed to the defaulters to step forward and offset their arrears in order to enable the council implement its projects for the city.

“Cognisant of the fact that the city needs a healthy enviroment, we lack adequate vehicles for garbage collection,” he said, adding that another major problem is the activity by some “uncrupulous members of staff” who conspire with outsiders to make receipt books for the illegal collection of daily revenue on behalf of the council.

“Ten of our staff members who were involved in it were terminated,’’ he told the Daily Observer. He then advised other sister-councils to be mindful of such “unpatriotic” individuals whose ultimate aim is to undermine the development aspirations of the government.

Recommendations

The outgoing BCC interim committee chairman then pointed out the recommendations tailored out by his committee, including the rehabilitation of the pumping station along Borne Road. He stressed that the structure is in the process of dilapidation. However, he hinted the Daily Observer that studies are currently underway to repair it.

“We recommend that an organised waste collection system be put in place to ensure sustainability,’’ he said. He added that his team also recommended for the staff of the council to be registered with the Social Security and Housing Finance Cooperation.

Alhaji Alieu Mboge capped his comments on with an expression of profound gratitude to President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh for the trust and confidence bestowed on them.

He also hailed the efforts of prominent Gambian business personalities, as well as a team of investigators at the Albert Market, whose contributions cannot be over emphasised”.

The Secretary of State for Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs, Ismaila Sambou, this week presided over the inauguration ceremony of the Mayor elect of Banjul Samba Faal and his councilors at the BCC Chambers in Banjul.

Delivering his inaugural statement SoS Sambou said Local Government has been recognised globally as being at the core of fundamental local development initiatives.

He said it was for this reason that the Government of The Gambia attaches the utmost importance to supporting local democracy and good governance.

SoS Samba stated that Local Government plays and essential role in the development process of the nation.

He added that in order to build on the success already achieved by the APRC Government under the dynamic leadership of President Jammeh the new council must show endevour to further steer the development of Banjul.

In this process, the SoS told the gathering, they must serve as a shining example for other councils to emulate because Banjul is the capital city and must always be to the forefront of development. This, he added, will ensure The Gambia will stay in its rightful place in a free and democratic world.

He went on to commend the interim management of BCC for its good work during their three-month stint.
 
The outgoing Chairman of the Interim Management Committee BCC, Mr. Alh. Alieu Mboge, gave stock of the three-month period that his management served.

Mr. Mboge said the revenue base has increased considerably from D7,000 to D30,000 daily.

He pointed out that during Tobaski Wanterr the council was, in one day, able to collect D195,000 from the space provided for market vendors at Albert Market.

Mr. Mboge said the highest revenue they collected in one month was D1,054,000. This he described as a record in the history of BCC.

He also revealed that they have cleared their overdraft with the banks and now have a cash reserve of two million Dalasi and a working capital of over one million.

Commenting on the projects Mr. Mboge said they have rehabilitated the Albert Market abattoir to a standard one. He also commented on the road from Campama to Wilberforce which has been resurfaced.

He said that they have provided quality street lights in the city which were in very poor condition.
 
“We have improved the standards and sanitary conditions in Banjul and also carried out a staff audit which led to the introduction of a tighter financial regime and better staff discipline in relation to finance and proper management of cash,” he said.

Commenting on the constraints he complained about the lack of vehicles and also the fact that the vehicles they had were inadequate.

Mr. Mboge said in January they were able to increase collections from D755,000 to 900,000 for the council.

He added that the council has 45% shares in the National Lottery and noted that initially they used to receive D100,000 but now they receive 5 million Dalasi.

He called on Banjulians to pay their taxes to council and added that the total debt owed council stands at 22 million Dalasi.

Speaking shortly after taking his oath of office the new Mayor Samba Faal thanked President Jammeh for having the trust and confidence in him to recommend him to contest the recent Local Government Elections.

He also thanked the interim management committee and all the people of Banjul.

He assured Banjulians that the revenue base will continue to follow the trend seen under the stewardship of the interim council and not only maintain current levels but also increase.

Mayor Faal called on Banjulians to forget their political differences and work for the interests of Banjul.

He urged taxpayers to pay their taxes in order that the city might develop.

He said the new team will not compromise with the administration and will continue to work for the people of Banjul by increasing the revenue base.

“If the administration is not ready to deliver then heads will roll,” he assured Banjulians.

In conclusion he said, “we will work hard to achieve the development objectives of the President.”
   
Meanwhile in another development reports reaching The Point indicate that the Deputy Mayor will come from elected councilors instead of the nominated.   

The Banjul Youth Committee in collaboration with the Banjul Youth Parliament (BYP), on Thursday called on Banjul stakeholders to their young people’s breakfast show. The ceremony was held at the BYP Canteen at the High Court in Banjul.

The Occasion which was aimed at strengthening and consolidating the cordial relationship that exist between the Banjul City Council (BCC) and the young people of Banjul, brought together high dignitaries in Banjul including the Chief Justice, Abdou Karim Savage, Mass Axi Gai, secretary of state for Youths and Sports and Samba Faal, Mayor elect of Banjul.

Speaking at the occasion, SoS Axi Gai, said that his priority is to strengthen the relationship that exist between the youths and his department, adding that 65% of the bilateral arrangement between the Gambia-Spanish government focuses on youths.

 He added that the issue of migration will soon be history and further pledged to support the canteen. For his part, Adbou Karim Savage, Chief Justice of The Gambia expressed delight to be associated with the BYC and BYP, adding that the youths are the future leaders of the country describing their regime as dynamic. He reminded the gathering their childhood days in Banjul and advised them to make best use of the canteen.

 He also advised them to double up their efforts to contribute their little to national development.

Alagie Bai Ceesay, Speaker of the Banjul Youth Parliament, said that failure and success of the city  lies in their hands, as they are the first youth organisation to set up such a business venture in Banjul. He noted that BYP cannot achieve its goals without the help of the Chief Justice. 

According to him, the programme  is meant to show their  appreciation to the people of Banjul for electing representatives in the council and the National Assembly and called on Banjulians to  unite and put aside their political difference for the interest of the city.

He highlighted some constraints the organisation faces over the past years such as the yearly subvention from the city council. He also expressed  concern on the issue of illegal migration.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Sandigie Njie, BYC Treasurer.

Mr Mustapha Batchilly, the Chief Executive Officer of Banjul City Council (BCC), has described as unfounded a report by the online newspaper Senegambianews.com that Babou Cisse was arrested by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

In a press statement sent to this paper, Mr Batchilly stated that Babou Cisse was recruited to carry out an audit exercise of the revenue administration and devise a system of proper revenue collection in order to avoid discrepancies and fraud.

He emphasised: “Babou Cisse was never arrested or detained by the NIA. He was asked to throw light on the method of revenue collection which he ably explained, supported by the actual revenue receipts in the months of November and December [2007], when he was in charge of the market.”

According to the BCC Chief Executive Officer, revenue reached a record level of D1 million in one single month, the highest ever recorded in the history of BCC.

He stressed that Babou was never responsible for the increase in stall rates, pointing out that it was “a decision of the Council.” “The closure of stalls is also a decision of Council,” he added.

Tenants who are affected by this exercise have been responsible for either letting stalls without the consent of BCC or sold their leases at exorbitant rates of about D15,000.00 annually,” he said.

He added that such an act was not only “a breach of contract with BCC but it was also a fraudulent act.”