The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Momodou Camara
17 June 2008
The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) is a national pride and an institution of monumental proportions in leadership and development.
This strategic institution is at the fore front in the crusade for national development and attainment of the goals of our 2020 vision. In this mighty institution we have in place a dynamic, forward thinking management who are year by year registering success upon success both nationally and internationally as manifested in the numerous awards internationally they did receive.
The ferries are doing a very good job worthy of commendation from all and sundry. The ferries alone are transporting six million people per annually. In the same vein they are taking onboard 250, 000 and about it in vehicles annually. That translates into a global sum of about 100 Million Gambian Dalasi which is 2.5 Million Pound Sterling per annum. This is phenomenal and indeed the ferries are doing a very good job. Next time you see a department of state under performing or an organisation not delivering and is still able to drive their vehicles and pay their staff just think about GPA as it is their efforts that are keeping those lazy bodies in the shades. Accidents on the ferries are at negligible proportions and fatal happenings are almost none existent although the risk is ever present.
As dynamic as the GPA management are I will advise them and urge them to take compensation of people and staff who are wounded or injured in the line of service, duties or were just passing through very seriously. Those god works and gestures will and shall be remembered long after you gone and the person you help may be my sister, your brother or chairman of the board' s uncle. The ferries are timely, efficient, and reliable and they are above averagely quick. I am highly impressed with what they do at the ferries and the cleanliness has improved greatly but there are still rooms for improvement. The ferries are able to command such respect from the people and the travelling public due to its high standards in health and safety records.
People are not animals and despite the present of poverty among our midst we are still as a nation and a people very conscious of the beauty of life and as Gambians we are very sober as a people and if there was poor records in health and safety at the ferries then the figures and followings they command today would not have been the case. We would have end up with a scenario where by we look for alternative routes of travelling or other sources and ways of reaching our respective destination by all means trying to avoid the ferries. However, that has not been the case, is not the issue and we hoping the ferries will keep it the way it is and inculcate periodic maintenances and checks.
At this point I must say bravo to the management and staff for their commitment, dedication and steadfastness in getting the ferries undergo maintenances when and if the time is due. As at the time of writing this discourse the ferry called JOHE has just returned from a long break, by undergoing maintenance and guess what it was able to cover the distance between Barra and Banjul within 25 minutes as compared to one hour that the others namely, Kanilai and Barra are taking at present.
I will safely say therefore that maintenances on the ferries is a very necessary and important exercise as we will be able to avert dangers, emergencies and maintain our good records in health and safety and most important of it all the durability of the ferries. I would like to say, so far so good as they are getting the ferries undergo routine maintenances and we are not complaining and that is sheer joy and appreciation to travel on JOHE fresh from maintenance and see the beauty of hard work, dedication and genuine service delivery to the masses coupled with a friendly Gambia and Green Gambia.
The other departments of gpa
The Banjul Port is beaming with lots of cargo as big mighty multi-national giant ships anchor to deliver much needed supplies in foodstuff, essentials, luxury goods, housing, building materials and construction needs of the nation and the sub-region as a whole.
There is reliability and proven track record in efficiency and service by the GPA that ships of all colours, sizes and magnitude comes here and anchor to load or unload badly needed stuff without the slightest show of amateurism or dalay. All the hurly burly taking place at the ports is all geared towards strengthening commence and trade there by contributing to the quality of life here as a people and a nation. Over the years since the coming of the APRC Government there has been increase in the total revenue collection base of the GPA and the activity and frequency of ships decking has considerably increased.
The GPA has undergone tremendous face lift and it is a pioneering and market leader in efficiency and service delivery in this country and the sub-region. As with the GRA and the SSHFC, the GPA is among the few Gambian Quasi Governmental organisations that is registering year by year successes and moving well in the right direction and instituting sound policies and meeting and breaking target year by year.
This is priceless and since the inception and accession of the APRC and HE President Yaya AJJ Jammeh respectively to the throne, matters of state and the affairs of the GPA has moved from strength to strength. The GPA today is well position to do a lot and contribute much more to the socio-economic development of this country. Over the years the GPA has transformed itself from manual to electronic (computer and internet driven) and machine intensive in the servicing of ships and other ports related functions and activities.
There have been considerable investments in the area of handling of containers and delivery of other weights and other heavy machinery. The GPA is at an enviable position and leading the way in the running and operation of ports and that is a very laudable stride in the right direction for the country and the realisation of the 2020 vision.
The shipping and the handling of cargos and containers on day by day basis is becoming very computerised and modernised in order to cater for such complicated and complex standards that some of these visiting ships do usually come with and the GPA is livid of these demands. The GPA is indeed very efficient in the handling of cargo containers as so far ships visiting are facing very little bottlenecks in their works at the Banjul port and I do hope the GPA will maintain the standards and improve on the health and safety conditions in the ports and those who work on the ports needs to respected in their drives to be further educated both locally and internationally. This is a very volatile area and most directors and heads of institutions and department only pay lip service or shy away from training and development of staff, when in real time and real life this should be high on any organisation's budget and activities.
Venturing into unchartered waters
I am beginning to like what I am seeing at GPA and I must salute their absolute bravery, foresight, intellect and love for Mother Gambia that they have demonstrated in venturing into BASALT market. Before today the BASALT market rocketed to a staggering D42, 000 per truck load excluding fuel, transportation and other expenses and time factor related cost that is taken to ferry the basalt from Senegal.
If today GPA has ventured to go a long way further to Cape Verde to get us this construction gem then I have no other longings except join the countless other Gambians in celebrating the good news and wish for more expansion of GPA interventions in other Gambian sectors that are performing very poorly. How about going into road construction, what about waste management, do you ever thought about taking the remains of the GPTC. What about microfinance for the farming and rural populace, providing farming inputs and capital for the farmers? These are all areas demanding national attention and intervention with the sole aim of restoring past glory or in other cases developing the rough diamond embedded in some of these areas.
The boldness and foresight that the GPA had to venture into the importation of Basalt into this country and to make it affordable for the average Gambian is a very patriotic and decisive move by this august institution. I have been advocating on this column for Gambians to rise up and heed the national call to development. In that same vein, I have also used this column to ask privilege people in coveted positions to use their positions for the common good of all Gambians as enshrined in our national anthem.
I have also constantly urged people in top positions and management to use their positions as instrument of changing lives as if the job you do does not in any way directly or indirectly change lives and the way of living of the Gambians then it is gross under achievement or failing your compatriots . However, we are not all privilege to be at the top but those who pull the strings in their respective departments should be able to make dynamic moves and changes for the better of the people or the country as a whole.
I will once again, doff my hat for the staff and more outstandingly the management of the GPA for a good intervention and a bold and decisive more to go into an uncharted terrain that is dealing in basalt a national sought after product. To the GPA you have impressed me greatly and I am most grateful in my life time in the Gambia to see a bunch of such dynamic, forward looking and motivated group of people working hard to solve a national need and scourge. Remember, what Senegal is good at is physiology and for their authorities they have the Gambian at their finger tip and they always know where to wait and how to exploit the Gambian without you being able to complain or causing a fight.
This latest move by GPA trust me will take them off guard and they will be very surprise with how we manage to do it. I will tell them to go to GPA as the Gambia no longer waits for Senegal to get the Gambian Train moving. This is beautiful as no one will then be able to hold this nation at ransom and GPA has indeed put another mark to our independence.
For most people when we talk about independence, it is not sufficient to be only political independent. For a nation to be independent we must be able to rely on our own and be able to make choices avail to us by numerous options we are able to scout for and for the person to be independent try and feed yourself and sleep in your own yard, then the rest will be history. GPA by doing this, going into basalt trade they have consolidated our sovereignty and put another plus on our crusade to be respected and recognised. I will also put a bet that the Senegal Basalt price will subsequently drop as the Gambians chooses to stay at home. Welcome CapeVarde Basalt, Gambia is home.
A lesson to all organisations and directors
GPA has taken the lead and so there is no hiding for you directors and department heads to rely on this policy and that policy to excuse yourselves from delivering and delving into new territories. As heads the onus lies on you to start something constructive fro mother Gambia so that your children will be proud of you tomorrow and your names will be shouted long after you did your time.
Bravo GPA, keep moving as you are doing the right thing and I am indeed impressed and I hope the President too is impressed as he respects good things and hard work and may his blessings and recognition reach all and sundry who have been involved in this laudable programme directly or indirectly.
I wish and I do hope all national institutions and parastatals or Quasi Governmental organisations will from hence forth try going out of their respective comfort zones and try the unknown and help save a life, change a life and even improve a life as that is all what this work that work is all about. It is naïve and pretty petty to see, meet or chat up directors who are like zombies never initiating nor change anything in their respective departments without as they put it 'waiting for a word from above' and sometimes that word will never come and they spent all the time in their directorate sleeping and running after clerks and lowly workers in circus of bullying frenzy.
I will pay a director any sum if he is able to make moves and generate the pre-requisite revenue that the organisation lives on and will sack a director who is lazy, conservation, and excuse driven type. How about appraising directors and department heads on an annual basis to see whether they deserve to stay or go. That seems fair as those who do not work will not eat and why should you eat when you do not work, where is the food going to come from? Food for thought and I hope you take a bite.
I will close this dedication to GPA by first of all saying a big thank you for being different and moving away from the traditional, conservative Gambian organisation. Aside that, I wish to pray for the healthy and resource and family tranquillity of each key player at this institution so that you can concentrate on the job at hand. I will also use this dedication to ask all directors to be pragmatic in their outlook and buckle up their shoes and face the new challenges facing our country today. I will also use this discourse to appeal to all big players in our national institutions to do more as doing what is normal seems not to be enough.
I will therefore ask all people of substance be it MPs. Lobbyists, Opinion Leaders and Goodwill Ambassadors to start a new thinking and that is rewarding and promoting skills, expertise, results (deliverance), brains (geniuses) as it is only through these gifted people that we can transform our lots for the better and transform the Gambia into a place that will be the pride of Africa and a place worthy to live and raise children. GPA thank you and please keep it up.
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