The re-elected mayor of the Kanifing Municipality (KM), Talib Ahmed Bensouda, was today sworn into office together with the councillors to officially continue steering the daily affairs of the people of Kanifing Municipality (KM).
Delivering his swearing-in speech, the mayor said: “Thank you for your confidence. Thank you for the recognition of the good work of the councillors and the management of the Kanifing Municipal Council over the past 5 years. Thank you for believing in our vision. Thank you for accepting and validating our plans for 2023 – 2027.
“I wish to congratulate the people of Kanifing Municipality and Gambians in general. This election cycle represents the second multi-party local elections conducted in the last 20 years where, for the most part, all parties and citizens were free from the yolk of an authoritarian regime. During the elections voters were able to vote for the candidates of their choice. This is one more step towards a free and democratic Gambia and will surely strengthen our nation.”
The mayor said that during the campaign, they listened to the dreams and aspirations of the people, who are yearning for development, and would work hard to serve them well.
“I am overwhelmed by the trust you have placed in me to grant my councillors and I such an overwhelming mandate,” he said. “This council will strive every day to fulfill the promise to the people of KM to make this next term one of record achievements.”
He further promised the people that he would serve them to the best of his ability: “I therefore re-commit to wake up every single day to do my utmost to deliver on our plans and to accelerate the growth we have previously registered. This new term will be shorter and will expire in exactly 4 years. As such, I use this opportunity to call on my fellow councillors and the staff of Council so that we may collectively rise to the challenge, to work together even more closely for our common master – you the people.”
The mayor said the focus of this term would be on road infrastructure, market infrastructure expansion, development of a low-cost municipal bus transport service, construction of affordable housing to ease the congestion and rent burden of the less privileged and the establishment of a public information office to provide guidance to residents of KM.
He also promised to mechanise and process waste at the Bakoteh dumpsite and to increase youth engagement and participation in development.
