FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Lamin Fatty
3 July 2009
Information reaching this reporter has confirmed that staffs working for the only cotton company in the country, have not received their salaries for over sixteen months. This, according to sources, is as a result of the failure of the company in cotton production.
Expressing his concern to this reporter, a Senior Staff working for the company said he worked for over twenty years for the Gamcot because he knew every body has a role to play as far as National Development is concerned.
He pointed out that Cotton is an important cash crop which has contributed a lot in improving the revenue of the farmers and the government but stressed that he has not been paid for sixteen months. This he said has created a situation of stress and economic difficulties for him and his colleagues. He said it is embarrassing for the government to see the staff who are contributing to the improvement of agriculture, a back bone of the Nation, suffering, while it appeals to people to go back to the land. He appealed to the government to intervene.
A driver who claims to be working for Gamcot also expressed similar sentiments. He said as drivers, they are the most disadvantaged staff as far as Gamcot is concerned. He said for sixteen months he has not had his salary and still does not know the reason. He appealed to the concerned authorities to do something about the company.
When approached for his comment on the fate of the staff working for the cotton company, the Secretary General of the Cotton Growers Association, Omar Sompo Ceesay said it is unbelievable that the Gomcot staff are without salary for the past sixteen months. He pointed out that those who know the company before will be disappointed about the news.
He said he has been approached by the staff on several occasions but what he advised them was to maintain patience as efforts are being made by the authorities to be aware of the situation of the company.
When approached for comment, the Acting Manager for Gamcot Mr. Woppa Baldeh said he is over seeing the company because it belongs to the country. He said someone has to sacrifice and take responsibility otherwise every thing will be in disarray.
He pointed out that the cotton association has approached him for extension support services and he is ready to work with his team in providing effective and efficient extension support for sustainability of cotton production in the Gambia; noting that if the pilot project succeeds, it could pave the way for prospects in cotton production in both URR and CRR.
Regarding staff salaries, he said he cannot make any comment because he does not know anything concerning the issue of salaries.
This reporter made efforts to speak to the then manager of the company, one Mr. Amadou Danso, but this proved futile.
Readers would recall that Mr. Danso left the company as the manager almost two years ago. After his departure, Mr. Woppa Baldeh was said to be identified to oversee the general security of the company including the staff. However, according to the staff who spoke to this reporter, they have not been paid their salaries for 16 months now.
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