Binta Jaiteh & Mariama Njie
National Assembly members on Friday debated over a financial deal between Gambia government and International Fund for Agriculture and Development.
Speaking during the debate, Hon. Halifa Salah representative for Serrekunda said Agricultural development for the eradication of poverty, is so fundamental to our nation saying “taking further notes of the document given to us, are so comprehensive in their presentation,”
“I am requiring sufficiency time for all members to digest the content, I will move for the debate to be adjourned and the document forwarded to the select committee on agriculture for further review for the Assembly to consider the matter,” he said.
Hon. Samba Jallow representative for Niaminadakunku said the Resilience of Organization of transformative small holder agricultural project, look at the project description mention by the minister of finance, it is very clear.
“It has no of regional boundary, it for the whole country and hon. Speaker when taking loan, the first to consider is the interest, or the concessionally of the loan,” he added.
He said the hence the project will benefit 80% of women, then it should be approved by the We should help our women who are actually 80 percent of the population of this country.
Hon Ma Janko Samusa a nominated member said that the members of the committee are concern with the approval of the bill, adding that the loan on the agreement is huge.
According to him, many Gambians are suffering, bag of rice I costing one thousand four hundred and fifty dalasi and people don’t have trust in civil servants, retreated that Gambians are worried because of the past experience.
Hon Bakary Camara Kiang central representative said: “Gambians should be mindful of loans if not hunger will kill us” adding the project is good but we should consider the percentage, the people who are monitoring do they have the skills to solve our problems.
Meanwhile, Kantora representative Hon Billy G. Tunkara said that the loan will have an impact on our citizen, we are aware that the Gambia is part of International Organization Union, due to that we cannot go for high loan that have high interest.
He said members of the parliament are here to take decision based on our consent, adding that the population of 1960 and 2020 is incomparable, poverty and demand are high.
Hon Alagie S. Darboe Brikama north representative said the Gambia is at level were human voices to read and translate, the assembly should Work on it so that it can be standard; it is done to clear consent by parliamentarians, adding “all the members are concern with the development of Agriculture, but rational approach should be taken to deal with agricultural matters.”
He stated that no project will ever come to the Gambia that will be bigger than the jahilli pacharr but how did it end, he was devastated by theJahilli Pacharr.
“The Gambia should say no to importation poof rice”
He explained that the Agric select committee should go beyond on what the ministry will be summarizing, they did consult the members so how can we say this is from the agric committee.
Gone are the days were we put our money and not our mouth”
He pointed out that the ministry of said they have enough fund for the youth and sport development, we want to know how the fund will be manage and utilized, adding that the agric select committee should do that.