By Amadou Jallow
At a press conference marking his first 100 days in office, the mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, Ahmed Talib Bensouda, has revealed his council is joining partnership with Brikama Area Council and the Banjul Municipal Council to work on the eventual closure of Bakoteh dumpsite and put in place a joint strategy for west management.
Mayor Bensouda said in service delivery, there are numerous illegal dumps-sites in the municipality as a result of illegal dumping, mostly by donkey carts.
“I have instructed the administration to continuously clear all illegal dumpsites. The Bakoteh dumpsite is causing serious environmental pollution and public health hazard to the residents of the communities surrounding the dumpsite,” he said.
He added: “Since I had the privilege to assume the office of the lord mayor of the Kanifing Municipality, it is in this spirit and as promised during the campaign, that I report to you our activities, challenges and achievements over the last 100 days in office.”
Mr. Bensouda became mayor of Gambia’s most populated municipality in the May’s mayoral election under the United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket scoring 29, 325 of the total votes in the municipality while his closest contestant Rambo Jatta of the APRC party candidate had 17,392 votes.
“I was sworn in on 21st May 2018 with a clear mandate to lead the Kanifing Municipality from the dark past of financial mismanagement, blatant corruption and abuse of office to a new era of transparency and accountability to the tax payers and the delivery of basic services to the residents of the municipality,” Mayor Bensouda said.
“The and his team inherited suffers from lack of human, technical and financial capital and capacity, saying these are challenges that they must overcome as administration of the community resources. To do so, we need the support and participation of the community development fora joint effort that we all share.”
He said the Council’s financial committee is comprised of accountants, auditors and experts in public financial, management, saying the former administration was operating a multitude of bank accounts, which was contrary to the local government finances and audit.
Mayor Bensouda added: “The new administration promptly commenced the process of closing down the accounts to maintain one council development fund account. We are going to operate only three accounts which has vastly reduced the risk of maladministration.”
Look Mr Bensouda! The majority of Gambians do not care about how many votes you won at the election, the number of accountants/auditors on staff or the myriad of problems that you claim to have inherited! Move on to doing life changing events!
You sought the votes of the electorate to take on the mantle of leadership ostensibly on the promise that you can lead the KMC out of the pit that it was. Enough with the showboating here and stop calling in roadside journalists to write flowery narratives on the promise of grease on the palm.
Tell us instead,
1. What specific plans you have for the dumpsites.
2. Where the dumpsites will be relocated.
3. Offer specific plans on dealing with refuse collection and disposal.
4. Offer specific plans on how you will fulfill your campaign promises. Show us a blueprint and not empty promises!
If the sheer enormity of the work ahead appears overwhelming, make that clear and find good help to resolve the myriad of issues staring at you in the face.
This is not a clubhouse/vous but a respectable office that calls for serious, actionable and sensible business plans that will resuscitate the KMC at large.
If you and your team can’t deliver the goods, either move on to another career or you will be voted out. And please note that FAR Ltd or any other body cannot save you from the wrath of the voters come the next voting cycle. This is not about party politics but all about the felt needs of disaffected residents of the KMC and the families living around the Bakoteh dumpsite that continue to live in a polluted environment. Enough with the gimmicks and raising false hopes as too much water has gone under the bridge already. So when Kombo labels someone a Naari Beiruto, they mean that truth is in short supply. So show us some of the Ndarameh in you! Get to work!!
It is a big job, is it not?
The citizens deserve a 100 day report from their elected officials.
A significant step is the decision to have a single council development account. The idea to collaborate with other councils to find a solution is a welcomed approach. The citizens will like to know what you have accomplished in the last 100 days. That is not asking for too much. Is it Mr Lord Mayor.