Gambia’s president Adama Barrow has used the first day of his countrywide tour to announced plans to construct a bridge between the country’s capital, Banjul and North Bank Region commercial community of Barra commencing next year.
The distance measuring 7.1 will be the longest bridge in the country when constructed.
The construction of a bridge over the Banjul-Barra crossing has been a discussion since during both Gambia’s first and second leadership but couldn’t materialise.
Mr. Barrow made the announcement Monday at the commencement of his ten constitutionally mandated tour of the country in Essau, North Bank Region.
President Barrow is expected to chair 44 general meetings and spot visits throughout the country during tour. He will also connect and engage first-hand with the members of the public on the government’s development blueprint – the National Development Plan, particularly the President’s priority areas.
“Discussions have reached an advanced stage to construct a bridge over Banjul-Barra crossing that would last for fifty years. The foundation stone will be laid in 2019 and works will take four years to complete,” Mr. Barrow said.
This is the second time of Mr. Barrow’s nationwide tour. The first was days before the 2017 National Assembly Election which many believe was politically motivated as he went to campaign for the UDP that won majority of the seats.
He said the funds have been secured for the construction of 25 boreholes that would provide water supply to 85,000 people across the country.
According to him, African Development Bank also approved funding for the provision of 60 other boreholes per year in The Gambia.
“In four years, we would deliver 140 boreholes across the country,” he said.
Confident of his development plans for the country, the President urged the citizens to have a checklist to assess his government on his national development plan.
In five years time, people of Niumi and Badibu should be able to work in Banjul/Serer Kunda and drive back home to spend the night with their families. It will also benefit cross border trade between Gambia, Senegal and the Guineas. If all goes well. That will be a fantastic infrastructural leap never witnessed in The Gambia. Commendations Adama!
The devil is however in the details:
1) How much is it going to cost the tax payer?
2) Funds, yes. But what type of funding is secured, a loan, a grant or a combition of both and at which interest for how long?
3) Will the bridge generate revenue and how?
4) Will you still be in power to see the completion of the project during your presidency?
5) Is the three year agreement already a dead deal?
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I know, me as an ordinary citizen cannot elicit any kind of response from you or the second president Ousainou, even though am entitled to one.
I just have a message for both of you:
You can’t take Gambia and Gambians for a ride anymore. Touring the country and wrongly using our state machinery to sell your agenda for a political future is unethical and we can already see through the veil. We won’t and can’t let it prevail.
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Yours in the service of The Gambia and the Black Nation, I remain.
For the part of generating revenue, I think they will have a toll boots with 24/7 cameras collecting information for assessment.
The bridge should be built after the port authority to avoid ship passage and to consider other large boat going under the bridge as well.
Mwalimu, allow me to associate myself with those sentiments. You have spoken for me.
Do we need the bridge? Yes.
Will it bring economic prosperity and bilateral social and geopolitical cooperation to the region? Yes.
Will it be cheaper to build compared to the huge economic burden of crossings the river with ferry? Yes.
Can we raise the money? Yes.
But what is the excitement? What is the news? What is the celebration here?
Any person with a pea size brain can tell we need the bridge, it is 30 years late. A donkey in Banjul can see this malignant truth.
Mr Barrow can you stop taking us for a fool and build the bridge that obviously needs to be built. But do us a favor,
Be:
Efficient
Cost effective
On schedule
We don’t need anyone ripping us off inflating the cost.
We don’t need anyone scoring cheap political points for what I consider a disgraceful failure that it took this long.
Sister, Dr. Sarr, I am not going to get into the Bridge discussion. If I do, it may reveal things about me and I do not want that to happen. So I will let all the commentators have a field day with it. Lol! I will believe there is a Bridge when I see one. Lol!
Well Samba we have been waiting for several decades, we may have to wait just a little longer. I won’t be surprised, I am more than prepared for that.
Lol!
A Bridge will be without doubt quite useful and in the long run a must if you want to expedite the economic progress and communication link between north and south bank of the Gambia and by extension connecting the economic centres Dakar and Banjul more effectively. But am also very sceptical about the planning and Realisation of such a Grand project – for Gambia’s circumstances- in such a short period of time.
It is in light of other considerable challenges facing the country, that I am dismayed that the president use the formerly “meet the Farmers tour” to announce such a Grand Project. Such Projects need to be handed to the ministry of geology / works and construction to do feasibility studies and then come out with preliminary Reports about: Maritime navigability -i.e. ports, geological challenges, conditions on both sides of the river Banks and most importantly cost etc.
This announcement means the preparation for all these studies were either completed or (may god forbid) will be commenced at the beginning of August. That is barely 4 month prior to construction begin!
Construction planning for this bridge has been in the works for years. We now have enough information to fill an entire library regarding “the bridge”. This idea is not Barrow’s, nor is it an original idea. It may now be politically fashionable for whatever reason. Time will tell. 2019 is around the corner, we will find out if this is magic. Or if Barrow is a magician.
I am not privy to that Information. I Salute you for the Information advantage!
If we are serious about development, we must open our country up and boost economic activity by linking the Southern Regions to the Northern ones, via bridges. Here’s my suggestion:
1. West Coast/LRD to North Bank
2. LRD/parts of URD to Central River/parts of URD
3. Parts of URD to other parts of URD
This is serious money, but it will be money well worth spending, as it will release the enormous economic potential within.
Parliament may have to enact special law to “protect” the Kiangkas from the ingenuity of Badibunka businessmen. (lol)
Ohhhhhh Bax, you shouldn’t have fore warned the Kiankas. Am sure they have already started taking precautions. You making me loose money, Lol.
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But hear this:
I am becoming skeptical the more I consider everything about this bridge. Don’t get me wrong, I will be exceedingly joyful if a bridge is constructed between Banjul and Barra.
The presidents‘ announcement however did not give out much information giving rise to many questions such as cost and duration. Such projects most often than, go beyond budget and are. Not completed on specified times. Not at all out of the ordinary. Fine! I suspect though, Adama and his boss, Ousainou, might make political capital out of it, justifying them staying in power longer than agreed “to complete their projects“. African leaders are the masters of that game.
So folks, will the port of Banjul be relocated or we gonna have another version of the Golden Gate Bridge?
A draw bridge would certainly present a novelty to my Nyominka brethren from Bunyadu and Bakindik. They’ll swear that there’s a Jinno working the mechanism.
I’d say to Barrow in Wolof, Bu DEH NAHH ITAM, NEH NAA DAYGA!
A new billboard for Barrow?
Yaya Jammeh all over again?
Where’s Babu Soli?