(JollofNews) – As part of efforts to tackle the uncontrolled spread of settlements in the country, Gambia government has expressed its resolve to put a halt to poorly planned urban development. Settlementsalong the airport perimeter fence also topped the agenda of cabinet discussions as the phenomenon continues to pose safety threats to airport.
“Other discussions centered on cabinet’s concern over the proliferation of settlements near the perimeter fence of the Banjul International Airport and the dangers posed to aircraft by domestic birds and animals reared by some residents,” reads a news dispatch issued today by Information Ministry, highlighting the points that were discussed during last Thursday cabinet meeting, which was presided by President Adama Barrow.
The cabinet meeting was punctuated by the presentation of two papers by the Minister of Lands and Regional Governments as the first one, which was endorsed by the 2nd Sen-Habitat Conference held in Dakar, Senegal in October 2017, highlighting the problems of rural-urban migration and the problems of inadequate social amenities confronting cities and urban areas. Like many underdeveloped countries, Gambia is confronted with rapid urbanization, bringing major challenges and problems in the housing sector.
Government vowed to take appropriate measures in order to address the matter, the news release added. “Cabinet reacted positively to a proposal for the government to engage UN Habitat, Shelter Afrique and
other relevant institutions for support to develop a comprehensive policy particularly in seeking housing solutions for low-income earners.”
Owning a home is one of the biggest challenges that Gambians are faced with. While real estate developers continue to provide houses beyond the reach of low-income earners, the move taken by government is expected to put an end to the inflation of housing costs, and regulate urban growth through proper master planning.
It’s too little, too late, but better late than never. I think land management is, perhaps, the area that does not get the priority attention it really deserves.
Prudent, strict and controlled land management should have been the first priority of independent Gambia, but the PPP Government allowed almost anyone who can lay claim to a piece of land to do whatever they wanted to do with it.
Our land resource, by our very nature, is very limited and woefully scarce, but it is all we have for all our development needs, whether that’s in agriculture, education, health, sports/leisure, residential, commerce or infrastructure, etc. to meet the demands of a fast growing population.
How government tackles this is left to be seen, but what is clear as a noon day, is that land will be the greatest threat to our peace and security tomorrow, unless we take the bull by the horn today, and address land ownership and management once and for all.
The real cause of urban sprawl is poverty and desperation. If our economy is strong and vibrant, if there is affordable housing for our brothers and sisters, then we can begin the conversation about how to remove these settlements. To just wake up one day and demolish people’s shelters, shatter their lives is irresponsible, unacceptable and callous. As I have indicated on multiple occasions, our problems are interrelated, but complex, requiring a sound and matured mind to discern and come up with a simple affordable comprehensive solution.
I hope they won’t be going on a demolition spree. That would indeed be irresponsible and callous.
Indeed, indeed, indeed.
Government must listen to good advice/input from well meaning citizens acting in their private or official capacity in a bid to address peri-urban and population challenges. We must not only go about venting shortcomings but also come up with plausible suggestions to help tackle what may appear to be daunting challenges.
I couldn’t help but share the sensible comments of Bai Lamina Jobe in his capacity, I believe, as a private Banjulian and a Gambian citizen. Exactly what we would like to see more of in a Gambia where blowing hot air has become the order of the day.
“Minister Jobe advises Banjul Mayoral candidates
Africa » Gambia » SHOW MAP
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
To all those candidates wanting to be mayor of Banjul, this is my take on the mayorship, as a Banjulian. The mayor is the “manager” of the city, a job at the moment that requires, above all, a vision for change. Change in turn requires resources, the raising and dispensing of which require the acumen of an entrepreneur, and makes running the city the same as running a business.
So what could be a business model for Banjul? So far, the city has always been in the transit trade, and a logical vision is to become a major player in this respect. This will have to include being both a commercial and a financial center, covering the inland river ports, Senegal, the West African region, and possibly beyond, supported by robust infrastructure and financial services.
To be more specific, a good mayor of Banjul would first give the city a facelift. Except perhaps leaving Albert Market and the ferry terminal at their present locations, and modernizing them, all other buildings and structures to the left of Wellington Street, he or she should consider razing to the ground, to give the city a marine broadwalk, lined by trees and benches, and opened to the sea. This will bring sense of space to the clustered city.
Next, the mayor should consider reclaiming the “tanne” or bund polder, to provide the Port Authority with container and truck yards and warehouses, also space for more offices and commercial buildings of related services. Perhaps the owners of the demolished properties along Wellington Street could be compensated with land in this area. Rehabilitation of the bund polder should include the city drainage network, which includes the main earth ring drain in the tanne, and Bokis pumping station.
Also, the mayor should be bold enough to review all existing properties in Banjul, whether commercial or residential, from the point of view of the city’s development. All delinquent and absentee property owners should be engaged to develop or sell their properties, otherwise city ordinances should allow the council to sell properties to settle tax arrears. As we all know, owners of properties in Banjul lack interest in the development of their properties, because of the multiple ownership of such properties. The council should approach the owners on this issue and together come up with a plan of removing the impasse.
Lastly, If the mayor can provide a well run city, with adequate infrastructure and services, the city will attract considerable number of trade related businesses, and more importantly, the mayor will be in position to raise the necessary revenues or even float municipal bonds, not only nationally but regionally, to meet recurrent operational needs and for further development.
Let the best person wins, to make into good use of the considerable goodwill for Banjul, at home and abroad”.
Bai Lamin Jobe
Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure
I totally agree with Bai Lamin that bold steps must be taken to revamp ailing infrastructure and resuscitate the city of Banjul.
However, the question is that the current mayoral aspirants have the both perspective and leadership capabilities to bring Banjul back from its hapless state.
Bai would make a good candidate for Chair of the Banjul City Council (BCC) not in his capacity as the Minister for Works but as a true and well meaning son of Banjul.
And by the way, I don’t go cheer leading for ANYBODY but commenting out of my commitment to see Banjul prosper and join the league of modern cities.
We can do that if the sons of Banjul will get off of their butts and do more than
LIP SERVICE to SUUHALI BANJUL!!
The MAA FI TOGG syndrome without the proper perspectives is not taking us anywhere!
I think the solution is good road system and dependable water and electricity. Perhaps fundamental is employment which can be enhanced by skill training so that our people are prepared to be self employed.
There is plenty of land in Niumi, Jarra, kiang, Foni and beyond but majority of youths are magnetised by the pull of employement opportunities or better resource availability in Kombo. Urban drift with its antecedent repercussions had the potential to cause stagnation because of underutilisation of the country’s potential. If there is good road communication people can live in Foni and work in kombo. The South and North Bank roads are key infrastructure that need urgent attention, especilaly from essau to Jufureh to Sika.
Also bridges accross River Gambia especially two key place, between Niumi and Lamin Daranga or Albreda and Faraba or Pirang. Building bridges in these places will greatly enhance mobility and transportation of goods. The government can easily achieve this by public private partnership.
Today mosk skill work like tailoring, carpentry, bakery small busineses like shops are by far controlled my Senegalese, Guineans and to some extent Nigerians, Maritanians and Labanese. These need to be look into because it is politically and economically unwise to allow vital sectors of the economy be controlled by section of the community.
This is not an orchestration for economic nationalism but a need to provide employment for our young to reduce the urban drift and to some extent the backway pull .
For the first time I find myself on the same side with Adrew Conteh. There is great need for tax reform and that is the crux of my next article coming next week inshallah.
We can’t rely on aid and grants alone, some of which comes with strings attached. Perhaps the government dispatched an expensive delegation to Ahmadiyya conference in UK for the first time in the history of the Gambia as far i know because some grant was given to the goveenment with that string attached lol….
Internal resources generation and intertnal efficiency is key antidote to finance our developemnt aspirations. Second, giving tax incentives to light scales manufacturing industries in area of food processing. Tomato, union and oil are needlessly imported when they can be easily manufactuted in the Gambia. They are a drain on our foreign currency and its time to promote local manufaturing and preservation of basic food items.
Gambians are consuming unhealthy oil, butter, margarine etc precursor ti mamy deadly health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes which increased manifolds in the last 22 years. Our climate being fairly unchanged, the lurking culprit is unhealthy food imports with dubious expiry date not manufactured in line with international standards. Though there is no statistics to back this assertion, the evidence is clear.
Darboe says, “For the first time I find myself on the same side with Andrew Conteh”.
Yes buddy, a little fence mending can go a long way.
I also concur with the statements below from Afang Taadibo Darboe. Smile.
“Gambians are consuming unhealthy oil, butter, margarine etc precursor ti mamy deadly health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes which increased manifolds in the last 22 years. Our climate being fairly unchanged, the lurking culprit is unhealthy food imports with dubious expiry date not manufactured in line with international standards. Though there is no statistics to back this assertion, the evidence is clear”.
However, I’d advise, on a brotherly note, to take time to do spellchecks on write ups.
Yes, there are many sources of data/statistics to support data on food imports into The Gambia from the European Union (EU), the US and other sources.
The issue with food exports to destinations outside of the EU and the US is that the product and exporter are not bound by the same food quality standards as products destined for sale and consumption in their own domestic markets.
A review of product labels for what’s labeled vegetable cooking oil from European sources into The Gambia will show the inclusion of animal fats plus a bunch of “and/or” descriptions for added flavors, colors, fats and oils whereas similar oils sold on European and US store shelves are mostly made out of finer sources such as Peanut, Corn, Canola, Soy Bean or Sunflower.
Gambians must therefore work in earnest to develop and boost sources of healthy oils from local sources such as peanut, palm kernel and sesame that offer much healthier fares for the Kunjurunkas (where the BENA KINO thrives) than the junk that comes from overseas in unlabeled and poorly labeled barrels. Heap the blame on your Baading Serankulus! The Gambia could also consider Soy Beans as an alternative crop to supplement the struggling groundnut crop that been losing its glory largely on account of the Gambian crop not being able to compete in the international market. Conversely, Dabanani has seen all the DABA NDINGOLU go rusty on account of all the Darboe Kunda Nkolu young’uns leaving through the back way and abandoning the fields in the process. It’s become SUURO CHUKURR MAA (for CHUURO SUKURR MAA), the sing song for Darboe Kunda all over again.
See Ndokeh, we do agree on substantive matters Ain’t it?
Andrew Conteh
I told you I can’t match your literary dexterity because I am not trained to be. I am a figure man all my life so i am excepted. While I am writing my penultimate posting, I was doing my CPD as well. They say TANTANG KOSO NING xxx NGANYA BEKA TAA NYOLA. Gambia need more tuan political changes, more importantly attitude change. Thanks for your complimentary jokes however Gunjur moo Alfa saateh leyti
This wasn’t a case of TANTANG KOSO NING……
I hate seeing half measures. Self professed accountants AND bean counters above all are required to pay attention to detail.
MUNA NMAY TA NYING FO YEH LEH DARBOE KUNDA NKO BARI
E KANGO JAA TA BAKEH LEH.
BTW, WO DOMORR LA BORAA LEE.
You do remember the Kombo adage that goes, TAALIBEH NDING KUNG NUNKO WO LEH KA…….
I will add Talibeh Nding Boraa Baa……
Yes, Bajaw knows that I am adept at stirring the hornet’s nest. So Kunjuru is gonna be off of my beaten path too! Lest ALU YENG DAA FIX!
You may, Darboe Kunda Nko, remember the adage that says, JALO SINGO BEH FORANGO TO….
Don’t get caught in the web that’s all about seeking clout in Dabanaani.
Let’s work to create a BRIGHT IDEAS YOUTH FUND for the town of Gunjur, Sandaali and the environs.
Andrew, “Dinding bulu ssenengo (ssenehyaringo / ssenehma), Aaning kebbalu kaa domoro keh mirang keeling neh” – Manding; (junior /young person with clean hands can always wine & wine with old people) meaning – A non (/un)stubborn young person will always (save his/her own skin) find it easy to intermingle across the board in society, at (peace) ease every where one is….
Nee Emay fonoh Elaa Chonchong-To yaa la, kombo nkolu, mbeh Sukuta Sabiji nkolu leh bulaala E dah fixo laa – If you don’t (call yourself to order &) abandon your hornet nest stirs, Kombo we’ll assign the town of Sukuta Sabiji to “fix your mouth”….
‘Warner’; Andrew, don’t think you are invincible; Jollof News crew, for example, can pin(your)point & “knock you for 6” (to rearrange your jaw); careful, you never know, who might be assigned (for the honours with pleasure) for your kaabila treatment proceedings; better watch out & behave your mouth, one more time Andrew…
So Bajaw, with your level of refinement you really do wish me a Kaabila Busaro?
Eh Bajaw! Now I know that you don’t wish me well. Eteh Mang Keh Nna Mo ti.
You know I recall a friend of mine that went through a Kaabila Busaro because he dodged the Kaabila Kafu Dokuwo. Kabiring E Fereh Ta la, he came back with cracks and long lines (Limbiro) on his skin and was constantly screaming, Eh Nteh, Eh Nteh, Yeng Nfaa Leh! Touch anywhere on his body and he’ll go screaming, Ka Baa Maalu Tindi. He’d constantly visit the Suntukungo to collect Seh Buuto to treat his sore skin.
There was this big guy called Lang Konding (ugly as a Kongo and a bully) in the disciplinary team that he lived to hate forever. That’s because Lang screamed Alaa Saba! So Bajaw don’t bring back the painful memories of the Kaabila Alkunutolu. But since I was a Kung Fanunteh, nobody could touch me. I also was always and still armed with the Sitti Kong Nombo. Hehehe!
OK, I will promise to behave but you also must advise your Kunjurunka cousin, the Darboe Kunda fellow, to behave or else we will invite him (Kaa Murundi) to the Kabaa Nombo and Folay Suto Kono to show him what the term, Ka Hawla Long really means since Saanying Dindingolu Mang Hawla Long. What Bajaw calls the Kaabila treatment proceedings will await him! Ouch!
So the Jollof News crew is in cahoots with the Kombonkas?
Now I know and I will remain Sobi Ring at all times. I will live by the adage, Fankanta Kurrto, Monay Bi Ka Farra!
Muna Bajaw, Ntay Leh Bulo Beh Kombonkolu Kang. Alu Song.
Also tell the Jollof News crew that, Nsay E Bulo Bula Seh Kono Deh!
Ntay mu Ela mohleti, Andrew, Nkay Eyaamari leh Dorron; ko Eyeh hakilo tu kombo nkolu bulo kanna futeh Elah; E lah “Fankanta Kurrto” will help your safeguard…
Wo Fankanta Kurrto Beh Keh La Daabaa Kurrto Leti.