The Government of the Gambia has agreed to flog the country’s only crop spraying planes that were purchased to combat desert locusts, malaria and bush fires.
The two DOSA planes costing over US$1 million each, were newly bought in 2005 from a company in Texas, USA, by the previous regime of Yahya Jammeh following the 2004 locust outbreak, which caused serious food shortage in the country and forced the government to declare a state of emergency.
But the country’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has negotiated the sale of the planes for a paltry 240,000 Euros to West Africa Aero Services SARL. According to our online research, the company is based in Guinea Bissau and provides jet A1 fuel storage, avgas storage and plane refueling services.
The sale of the AT802A single-engine planes which are equipped with cutting-edge technology and regarded as “one of the best in the world” was buried at the bottom of a government press release announcing the issuance of a television licence to the Gambia Ahmaddiya Muslim Jamaat.
No reason was given for the sale of the planes. No information was also given regarding the transaction including sales advertisements and negotiations.
“These planes are brand new and are the biggest agricultural planes now available,” said Jack Mezzo and Lee Veith who flew them to the Gambia in 2005 via Canada and Azores Island of Portugal.
Describing the planes during a demonstration in Banjul at the time, the pilots said: “The aerodynamics makes the aircraft very maneuverable close to the ground at slow speed, desirable for work in agricultural situations. Each plane can take up to 800 gallons of chemicals, which could be spread over 120 feet in spraying.
“In good weather, the two aircraft can spray the whole territory of The Gambia in one day. At 160 miles an hour, one could easily cover around 3,000 acres a day with these aircraft. Also you can land in very rough terrain. It does not need runways to land; there is no need for an airport with this airplane.”
With the sale of the planes approved in Thursday’s cabinet meeting presided over by Vice President Fatoumata Tambajang, the Gambia is now left with no effective tool to fight against any future locust plague.
This just does not make any sense ? My bicycle is worth more than this. Perhaps it’s a humanitarian gift to Guinea Bissau ?
Don’t make any sense to me. I hope someone will ask the ministers (Agric & Finanance) the reasons and rationale for this decision and what alternatives are in place should there be a locust invasion.
2 million dollars for only 240,000 euros. Probably they are not in good condition any more.
Most planes have a long shelf life/ These planes are the best and most reliable in there class. Jammeh bought well !
It’s back to the Gambian Royal Air Force>>> The Mosquito squadron……….
That firm in Guinea Bissau are well known. They wouldn’t buy rubbish.
Next lot up for sale;
The Statehouse/// ha ha ha
“Next lot up for sale;
The Statehouse”
That was the first lot, including human content.
Hello fellow Gambians and Subjects. With an undue sincererity, I sincerely hope and wish that the Adama Barrow, Ousainou Darbo and Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang’s New Gambia’s borrowed Slogan of “Gambia is Open for Business” does not mean Selling off any and everything that can be carried, lifted, moved, sailed or as in this case flown away from our beloved Gambian shores to the lowest bidder. The designated office or Oversight authority should investigate the Particulars of the Sale of the two very needed and important products in Gambia’s Agricultural tools. A starting point, would be why the sale of machinery and or technology that Gambia needs for multiple uses. These Planes or Aircrafts can be used for pest control as well as emergency, and emergency rescues given that they can take off and land just about any and everywhere and in most weather conditions. The Planes or Aircrafts can be used for Surveying the Gambian land scape given that they are tailor made to fly low. All that is needed is equip the Planes with Cameras and Staff it with Qualified Photo-Journalist and you have an Aerial View Documentary of the Gambia from Kartong in the Kombos to Koina in the Upper River. Depending on the space available on the Planes, they can be used for the Transportation of Emergency Medical Personnel and Supplies to all corners of our beloved Gambia. The Adama Barrow Ousainou Darbo and Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang’s New Regime should endeavor to Consult with the Public and the Stakeholders in matters of Selling off State Assets. Democracy and a Democratic Dispensation is not just the Presence of “Free Speech”, Assembly and Association. These are the basics, like ABC and 123. Where the “rubber meets the road” is the Accountability, Transparency and the exercise of Due Diligence in Matters of the State. There should be a Mechanism, an established way through which the Public, that is the Gambians are Informed prior to the Sale of any Public Assests and not after the fact. It is not in anyway reasonable nor logical or justifiable to sell two Planes that cost the Gambians $2 million dollars for a “butut change” of $240 thousand dollars. Ask any Market Vendor, man or woman if they make such a business transaction, and the answer would be resounding No. Never. “Hanni”, “Dae daette”, “Tegge” and the Aku would say, “Ahh craze”? The need to liquidate the Public Assests is not the issue. That is, if it is done in an informed, well thought through and beneficial to the Public and not just those in the Loop. Adama Barrow Ousainou Darbo and Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang’s New Regime should endeavor to avoid finding themselves in a Financial Commission Inquiry like the One now going on in the Gambia for Months. The Public, the Gambians are worn out, tired of Corruption and Corruptive Practices from Regime to Regime and then spending more money on Commissions of Inquiry which at the end of the day amount to nothing. The Public, the Gambians do not see the impact of the exercise, except having a feeling that those who sat on the Commission (s) came out of it doing rather well economically, while the average Gambian is no more better off than he or she was before and after the Commissions of Inquiry. With much disappointment and dissatisfaction with the Trajectory of the Gambian Governments’ handling of the Economy, Financial, Judiciary Agriculture and Tourism to point out the Sectors that the “New Gambia” could have done more than it has done so far. Given the Goodwill and response that the International Community and Africa itself has poured on the Gambia and the New Regime and given the nature of the alleged Baton handed to the New Regime, the Perception given is not one of a Sense of Urgency, Competence or a Sense of Direction. The State of affairs is in flux and the Ship is indeed in “troubled waters” without an able Captain or Sailors to help stir it out of Danger. Gambia is Too Small To Be a Failed State. Allah/God bless the Gambians and Gambia.
Sidi; Brilliant eulogy to want and waste and mismanagement. You left no stone unturned in your summation. Let’s sell the fish factory in Gunjur to North Korea so the smell can waft it’s way to Beijing.
It’s only fair trade….?
Why this was not put to open tender? Everything about this deal has corruption written all over it.