The initiative to transform the former Crab Island school into a technical and vocational education training (TVET) Centre, with Hon. Ousman Sillah, National Assembly Member (NAM) for Banjul North, receiving donation of a twenty foot container.
The donated item includes technical education equipment, tools and furniture from the Rotary Club of Royden Revolve near Liverpool in the United Kingdom (UK).
Receiving some samples of the donated items, which include desks, chairs, lockers, tool boxes and machines, on behalf on the proposed TVET Centre in Banjul, recently Hon. Sillah expressed profound appreciation for the donation of the items.
He said, the items came at the heels of an earlier donation made to the project last year from the same donors and for the same purpose.
He commended Rotary Club of Fajara and Mr. Minyan Jobe, assistant Governor District 9101 in charge of the Rotary Clubs for linking the Crab Island Initiative and the Rotary Club of Royden Revolve and facilitating the donation of the assorted items.
He revealed that the cost involved in the freight of the container as indicated in the bill of laden is £34,000 (Pound Sterling).
Hon. Sillah noted that the progress towards the establishment of the TVET Centre at the former Crab Island School is underway and at advance stage.
He also disclosed that if everything goes according to plan and for few issues that need to addressed by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), the Centre would be fully operational by the end of December year (2019).
Sillah pointed out promises for the commencement of the operation of the centre initiative was launched in June 2017 and repeated in 2018 without its realisation, attributing the delay to matters beyond their control but expressed hope that it would materialise before the end of the year.
He stated that support for the rehabilitation of the infrastructure or buildings is already mobilised and that the donor is only waiting for the green-light to be given in order to commence the civil works.
He added that other partners are also poised to come in to provide the necessary support in terms of funding the operations of the centre.
He thanked MoBSE for the unflinching support it has always been giving to the initiative from the onset, while described the ministry as the principal partner in this private/community public partnership endeavour.
He also acknowledged the pivotal role being played by the officials, including the previous and present permanent secretaries and the senior management.
Banjul North lawmaker said he will be receiving the donated items from the representative of the donors and then in turn hand them over to the MoBSE for safe keeping until the Centre is ready and operational to make good use of them.
In presenting the items to Hon. Sillah, promoter of the initiative, Ms. Taryn Waddel, President of the Rotary Club of Royden Revolve, thanked the Rotary Club of Fajara for introducing them to such an initiative, adding that everybody back home is very enthusiastic and supportive to this particular project in the Gambia.
She further said their commitment will continue supporting the Crab Island project in future as it trying to build the capacity of young people to become productive.
In his remarks after receiving the items Mr. Adama Jimba Jobe, deputy permanent secretary of MoBSE, assured his ministry’s commitment to continue supporting Crab Island project promoted by the Banjul North NAM, describing it as geared towards national development.
According to Jobe, everyone has a role to play especially when it comes to the welfare of young people and that this is what initiative is out to address by helping them acquire the relevant skills to become productive members of society.