By Yunus S Saliu
As he proceed on the annual tourism facilities tour and inspection of some ongoing tourism projects situated across destination Gambia, the Minister of Tourism and Culture has advised people of North Bank Region (NBR) not to sell their lands in exchange for money that will not last forever.
Honorable Hamat NK Bah advised that in whatever circumstances that come instead of selling their lands “you can have lease agreement with whoever that is interested, as the next site of beauty of The Gambia is here, Barra.”
Minister Bah who was addressing the Chief, Alkalo and Governor of NBR shortly after his inspection of DK Jawara Resort situated in Barra closer to Fort Bullen on his first day of the 2020 winter tourism facilities tour encouraged people of North Bank to protect their lands and not to sell them.
He continued that they should go in to lease agreement which will spell out necessary term including lease period and some other term of modalities.
He said frantically that “once you sell it you cannot get it back and to avoid being a loser as buyer enjoys. Therefore, guide your lands it is your asset, it is just an advised I have to give,” he said.
The Minister went on that very soon lands will become more precious in NBR as the “government of Adama Barrow is bringing back what is missing, infrastructural developments to north bank which the Hakanlang Road is one of some important projects of this government.”
With confidence, he expressed that it will make a great impact in the life of the people who live in the area and general Gambia people at.
“So we are committed to that course and we will not leave any stones unturned in getting to achieve our objectives in promoting the rural and domestic tourism in this part of the country because the time has come to get development to the people particularly tourism which carries 20 percent of our GDP,” he assured.
Minister informed the community that it’s presently winter tourism season in the country and despite the minimal cases of coronavirus pandemic recorded in the country the destination is still awaiting arrival of flights from various source markets.