Sheriff Abba Sanyang, Governor of Central River Region (CRR), on Tuesday, 1st December, 2020, officially presided over the opening of the Regional Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), meeting held at his offices at Janjanbureh.
The confab that brought together, Chiefs, Chairmen Area Councils, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of CRR North and CRR South, Regional Directors, Heads of Institutions, Lady Councilors, Youth Leaders among other.
In his opening statement, Governor Sanyang underscored the significance of the confab of the movers and Shakers of Central River Region, disclosing that it will help the regional authorities to make informed decisions on issues affecting the people of the region.
According to him, the role of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is generally for advisory purposes meant to identify issues affecting the region, investigate and discuss on these issues as well as propose solutions and recommendations to the authorities in ameliorating these identified issues.
Delving into the effects of the Covid-19 in his region, the CRR Governor said the unprecedented and unanticipated effects of Covid-19 have required all sectors and partners to adjust their programs and operations including initiating and following implementation continuity plans and, in many cases, affecting supports to very remote communities within the region.
He said despite some disruptions and associated challenges of the pandemic, the status quo has provided workers in the region with real-time “stress test” not only of their ability to operate remote but also presented the workers the ability to execute duties while complying with regulatory requirements that were designed for an environment with vastly different operational characteristics.
“Like other stress tests, planned and unplanned, the test imposed by the effects of Covid-19 has provided lessons and insights to the Committee and our people. Among the pandemic’s most obvious disruptions were those challenges affecting the institutions ability to deliver proper services to the beneficiaries,” CRR Governor bemoans the pandemic. He revealed that the regular meetings and discussions among the TAC Committee members in the region has hugely paid dividend in mitigating the impact of the Corona virus in the region, noting that the confab will provide the opportunity for the region to realized its status in achieving the stated goals of the National Development Plan (NDP).
“We shall provide particular recommendations for the various institutions whose reports shall be presented here today including challenges and other limitations that shall forward be to their parent bodies. We shall consider how best to apply the lessons and insights that we have gained during this year’s events,” Governor Abba Sanyang told participants of the three days confab.
In his presentation at the ceremony, Lamin Mambureh, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency Officer, disclosed that his office has apprehended 13 offenders this year some of who are currently standing trials in various Magistrate Courts in the region.
He revealed inadequate manpower, mobility and other incentives as a serious impediment to their work, noting that at least two NDLEA officers have been violently attacked and wounded in Kaur and Bansang over the period.
SO Salifu Baldeh of Bansang Fire and Rescue Services said most of the fire outbreaks that occurred within the region could have been avoided suppose communities are adequately sensitized on preventive measures to be taken in such circumstances, adding that his institution lacks the manpower, mobility and resources to effectively carry out its role in the region.
He called on Gambia Government through the regional authorities to provide them with vehicle both firefighters and official vehicles, while calling on local authorities to provide hybrids points in all markets and lumos across the region.