Photo: AP The president of the Republic has pledged to construct a main referral hospital in West Coast Region before 2017, if the land that will accommodate the proposed hospital is secured. His Excellency Sheikh Professor Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh made the pledge while addressing thousands of people in Brikama on Sunday afternoon as part of his ongoing 'Dialogue With the People Tour'.
The Gambian leader was accompanied by a high-powered delegation, including the speaker of the National Assembly, director generals, managing directors, senior government officials, and Yaye kompins, among others. He recalled the first meeting he held in Brikama during which he vowed to transform Brikama into a modern city, adding that since then a lot of developments have been registered.
The president stated that a suitable land for the construction of the said hospital is the main factor hindering its construction, adding that the current health centre cannot accommodate this project due to its size. He urged the Chief of Kombo Central to consult with the other chiefs in the region and the governor, so as to identify a ground for the project to be named the 'West Coast Referral Hospital'. "Before 2017 you will have a hospital that you will need no referral to either Serrekunda General Hospital or Banjul. The problem is not my problem but your own problem. The governor, chiefs and area councilors should work on it and give me a minimum of 600X700 meters, where this hospital can be built. I want you to identify the land before the end of September," he said.
The Gambian leader also observed that Bottrop Senior Secondary School and Siffoe Senior Secondary are not enough for the students in the area, thus the need for another senior secondary to be built in the region. He then promised to construct a school in the town that will accommodate the growing number of students. He remarked since education is free especially in the lower basic schools, it is therefore incumbent upon all to go to school. He used the opportunity to thank the women for their dedication and foresight in the development of the country. President Jammeh also urged the youths to go into enterprising ventures, noting that more than 98% of businesses in the country are controlled by foreigners. "How do you expect the country to be easy? How do you expect to be wealthy when you don't want to make any effort? Even in the craft market, 98% of the craftsmen are foreigners," he remarked. He said God has endowed this country with fertile land and resources that young people can exploit, adding that "if there is any religious ceremony in Senegal there is always a shortage of meat and fish in The Gambia simply because it is the Senegalese who are mainly dominating the fishing and other small-scale businesses in the country". He said that even in schools, girls perform better than boys even though they are taught by the same teachers. This, he added, is due to the fact that girls have the blessings of their parents as they assist their mothers in the house while boys are only eager to eat and idle away. He continued: "This attitude will not prevent the country from developing; the country will develop and most of you will be very poor. Yes, you know why NAWEC is under my office, no foreigner has ever defaulted in paying NAWEC and most of the defaulters are Gambians who can hardly afford to pay for electricity. Isn't that a shame in your own country." The president pointed out that the government has spent almost US$8M at the Gunjur Fishing project and another US$5M at the Tanji Fishing project. He said when one visits these centres the only fishermen seen there are Senegalese and other nationalities. He then stressed the need for attitudinal change, further stressing that the country is full of opportunities, which should be explored by the youths.
The minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Fatou Lamin Faye, said the government of The Gambia is partnering with the World Food Programme (WFP) to boost the school feeding programme by encouraging communities to cultivate farms, which will in turn be purchased for schools across the country. She also urged schools to cultivate farms, so as to enable students 'eat what they grow and grow what they eat'.
For his part, Ousman Sonko, minister of Interior, who is also the liaison officer for WCR, said that as elections are over, it is important for people in the communities to unite and work towards the development of the nation. Minister Sonko called on landlords to know the type of people they rent their compounds to. He also challenged alkalolu also to be careful with the way they issue documents to people especially those believed to be foreigners.
The mayor of KMC who is also the APRC national mobiliser, Yankuba Colley, thanked the people of Brikama for the warm welcome accorded the Gambian leader and delegation. He also thanked all those who voted in giving President Jammeh 100% victory in the last presidential election. Mayor Colley implored on the communities in Brikama to regularly observe the monthly cleansing exercise locally called 'set settal' so as to keep the environment clean.
Speaking earlier, the chief of Kombo Central, Dembo Keleng Bojang; APRC constituency chairman, Tabally Bojang; Hon. Saikouna Sanneh, nominated National Assembly member; Isatou Jarju, the regional women mobiliser; all hailed the Gambian leader for the remarkable achievements registered in the WCR. Speaker after speaker cited health care, road infrastructure, water and electricity, among other achievements registered by President Jammeh's government since he came to power.
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