By Yunus S Saliu
In quest to make Banjul City Council remain best city in the country and as well tidy and healthy, the Citylink Ostend-Banjul known as Future Proof Banjul, Saturday, 29th May, cleansed the environment of the Atlantic Beach in Banjul.
This cleaning exercise was the second one in the month of May and it is a bimonthly exercise of the project.
Commenting on the cleaning exercise, Alfusainey Gano, Project Manager of Future Proof Banjul said the exercise is to ensure that the beach remain clean at any time to make it a favorite place to relax and enjoy.
He noted that Future Proof Banjul is now one year down the line and the achievements of the project so far can be described as a milestone.
Mr Gano disclosed among other things that, last year, through the project 3000 coconut trees were planted across the beaches in Banjul and with hard work of members of the Project Team “2400 coconut had survived in the beach and this has never happen before by having this enormous number to survive in our beaches.”
He added that the survived 2400 coconuts tree are all looking green and beautiful, as people can now enjoy the beach and have fun than ever.
As plan is already made to procure additional 2500 coconut trees plus another 1000 species of trees for further planting in month of June, Mr Gano therefore appealed to users of the beaches to always keep it clean.
Meanwhile, the Project Manager said the concept and idea of the tree planting is to fight climate change and protect Banjul and its environment “which is essential to the project, people of Banjul and as well to the Office of Mayor.” Adding it is among the priority areas to celebrate as the activities are unfolding.
Still on tree planting, he disclosed that Future Proof Banjul will soon embark on another tree planting exercise in the inner city and this will be done in conjunction with the project partners in Banjul and other few consultants that work with the project “and of course with the Project Team and BCC to ensure Banjul is greening.”
Meanwhile, he revealed that the Mayor of Banjul will be joined by some dignitaries which include EU Ambassador to The Gambia, some cabinet members, top government officials, staff and management of BCC, religious, traditional, political leaders, Banjulians, women and children to launch over D20million Waste Management Project in the City on Thursday and another supplement launching will also be launched by the Mayor as a surprise to Banjulians and lovers of Banjul City.
Ms Annette Camara, Communication Officer of Future Proof Banjul disclosed that the cleanse exercise is ongoing since the inception of the project and it is done twice in every month.
She noted that cleaning the Atlantic Beach is vital as it is one of the areas Future Proof Banjul has invested saying “we don’t just plant trees and abandon them, this made us different from other organizations that have been planting trees in the beach.”
She noted further that “for us Citylink Ostend-Banjul known as Future Proof Banjul always monitor the progress and survive of the trees we planted, we hired gardeners and securities to take good care of them to enable grow successfully and secure while the beaches are cleaning on weekly basis.”
Ms Camara explained that the management of the project has installed running water pipe having electricity system enhance the daily wetting of the trees so that they can grow as expected.
According to her, Future Proof Banjul was joined in the cleanse exercise by the youth of Banjul in conjunction with the Project Team.
