By Yunus S Saliu
As they constructed an iron step to use for the time being, the residents of Juffureh and Albreda communities had expressed their dismay over the abandonment of the collapsed jetty in Juffureh in North Bank Region.
The members of Juffureh and Albreda Youth Society (JAYS) who has found it difficult to believe that till now the collapsed jetty still remains unconstructed saying it is worrisome that concerned authorities knew about the collapsed over the years, still, not doing anything to rescue the situation considering the fact that Juffureh/Albreda and Kunta Kinteh Island is among the importance communities when it comes to the country’s historical event.
The area is the first identified UNESCO World Heritage Sites in The Gambia as related to Kunta Kinteh Island and other European settlements as most of them were found around Juffureh/Albreda.
Also, Juffureh/Albreda villages are one of the key places in the country’s cultural historical sites, it is the birthplace of the renowned Kunta Kinteh and also a place he was captured and moved to Kunta Kinteh Island (formerly known as James Island) before sent to Goree Island and finally to the new world’s plantations. Also, it is where Alex Hailey – the author of the popular book ‘Roots’ all the way from United Stated of America traced back his root down to the village in North Bank Region (NBR).
Many tourists have cancelled their visit to Kunta Kinteh Island because of the collapsed jetty as they found it risky and unsafe to access boat to the island.
Since government is showing no concern on this issue and for safety purposes, the JAYS has constructed a step/ladder for people to use as a still jet-way to access in/out of the boat at the habour.
Expressing their concern over the situation, Sisawo Jatta, VDC Chairman for Albreda speaking on behalf of the Alkalo of the two communities said they have written letters to the concerned authorities over the issue but nothing done except promises.
“Since we cannot continue waiting on empty promises from the government hence it’s identified as a menace in the community that even tourists cancelling their trip to the island. As communities we took it upon ourselves to do a step/ladder that we can afford from the little money generated from the Tourists in the month of December 2019,” Sisawo said.
Lamin Trawally, a sub-committee member of JAYS and a Senior Tourist Guide of Juffureh and Albreda reiterated that most of the tourists cancelled their trip because they felt the ladder using before the constructed one was not quite safe for them to climb.
He quickly noted that when bigger boat from Banjul arrive it is always frightening when passengers are alighting and boarding since they cannot use normal passage. “The boat will need to bring the head to the edge of dock where a ladder or jet-way like a step will be placed for people to climb in/out of the boat,” he explained.
He added that “it is completely unsafe when the river is wavy, windy or stormy.”
The senior tour guide called on authorities concerned to do something over the issue as they have huge role to play “what they collect from the boat owners every year is too much because JAYS is not collecting anything from boat owners except D25 which they pay when going to the island while Gambia Maritime and other institutions are collecting thousands from them annually,” he lament.
Dembo Jabang a boat handler disclosed that over 2,500 tourists visited Juffureh/Albreda and Kunta Kinteh Island last month and “as usual the number is already growing this month while more and more are expected every month.”
Since tourists always want to see something new, he disclosed that there are many potentials that are yet to develop in this two communities and “if potentials in the communities are exploited it will keep the youths in the communities and discourage them from venturing into perilous journey – ‘backway.’
