President Jammeh Pledges Electricity for Marakisa
1 July 2013
AllAfrica.com
The Gambian leader has pledged to provide Marakisa Ward in the Kombo Central District of West Coast Region (WCR) with uninterrupted electricity supply and a technical high school, among many other development projects. His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh was speaking Tuesday afternoon at a meeting in Busura, after resuming from a temporal break in his 2013, 'Dialogue With the People Tour'. The meeting was attended by thousands of APRC supporters and militants, cabinet ministers, and a cross-section of the society.
He also promised to build a bridge for the women on the road leading to their vegetable garden, and open a new Technical High School in Penyem by September this year. The president further promised to finish the rehabilitation work on the feeder road linking Brikama and Busura, which is already under construction. He thanked the people of the area for the large turnout to welcome him and assured them of his government's continuous support. He spoke positively of his impression of the level of discipline among young people in Marakissa and Busura in particular. "Thank you very much to the people of Marakissa Ward; you are a good example to the whole country. I am ready to give you whatever you request from me because you deserve it. You have manifested your loyalty to me and I want to assure the whole of Marakissa of an affordable and reliable electricity supply before my next tour," he told the meeting.
Like in the previous meetings, the Gambian leader commended the women for their loyalty and support to him since the dawn of the Second Republic in 1994. He vowed to reciprocate the support of the women, while urging them to maintain discipline and obedience to their parents. "You have stood for me and supported me, and by the grace of the Almighty Allah, I would also reward you," the president told the people of Marakissa Ward, while advising the women not to sit and wait for him to meet them before explaining their constraints. He then advised the women to forward their constraints to their National Assembly member, chief or the governor's office for onward action most especially in the area of agriculture. Speaking earlier, the minister of Works, Construction and Infrastructure, Francis Liti Mboge, responding to some of the concerns raised by the locals, said that construction work on the road from Brikama to Busura is ongoing.
He revealed that government has already spent over four hundred million dalasi to finance that project, adding that the president has also promised to build some bridges within the area. The Basic and Secondary Education minister, Fatou Lamin Faye, in her turn thanked the villagers for their warm welcome. Minister Faye underscored government's resolve to make education free for all Gambians attending public schools. She said the newly implemented Education Policy would make education compulsory in The Gambia and by 2014 there would be no school fees at the upper basic level. While announcing the establishment of a new Technical High School in Penyem, the Basic and Secondary Education minister also disclosed a new school feeding programme in The Gambia, which will be implemented soon. Delivering the welcome remarks, the alkalo of Busura, Alieu Faye, thanked President Jammeh and entourage for having a meeting in Busura. Alkalo Faye also appealed on behalf of his villagers for electricity supply, potable drinking water as well as a health centre, while highlighting the numerous developments registered by the APRC government.
Speaking on behalf of women at the meeting, Ajaratou Mariam Bah also joined the Alkalo Alieu Faye in welcoming the president and his entourage. She spoke positively and extensively on the level of unity within the Marakisa Ward. "We are grateful to Allah for giving us a leader who always has the welfare of his people at heart. He is very supportive to the development of our ward and country," she said, while also appealing for support to enable them have all-year-round rice cultivation. Bakary Jalang Sanneh, who spoke on behalf of the youths, assured the Gambian leader that it is now their turn to reciprocate his good gestures for the young people of The Gambia. He used the opportunity to remind his fellow youths of the resourcefulness of President Jammeh each time he talks to them [young people].
Sanneh, who is also the Siffoe Farm Manager, informed the president about the employment opportunities his farm created for young people. He further assured him of such more opportunities, while pledging to employ up to 100 youths by January, 2014. He added that the employed youths will be able to transplant up to 50, 000 banana seedlings that would boost their economic benefits. "We the Gambian youths owe President Jammeh a lot and should reward him," he declared. Author: Musa Ndow & Sheriff Janko
Category: Energy