By Kebba Ansu Manneh
Honorable Musa Amul Nyassi, National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala has registered his regret over the sorry status of the Kanilai Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), a project initiated by former President Yahya AJJ Jammeh in his bids to enhancing the teaching of science and its related subjects in the country.
He made this observation at a Town Hall meeting organised by Activista in collaboration with ActionAid International-The Gambia. The well attended forum brought together citizens and their elected representatives to discuss governance and representation.
The project, building democratic culture through awareness raising and civic education was funded by the European Union and implemented by Activista in collaboration with ActionAid International-The Gambia
The purpose of this project is to raise citizen awareness on their civic rights and duties, and improve their participation in governance at all levels.
“In my own constituency, we are all aware of the Kanilai Institute of Science and Technology which was initiated by the former President and former government, the structures were all completed and what were needed are the right materials for the institute to start operation.
“Unfortunately, when there was a change of government the project was left out,” said Honorable Musa Amul Nyass, NAM for Foni Kansala.
He added: “As a representative of the people I engaged the relevant Ministry, Ministry of Higher Education and I was lucky to meet the Permanent Secretary who was also the Permanent Secretary of Finance at the time when the project was initiated.
He knew how much money was committed to that project and the funds are not Gambia government funds, the funds are from another government through the relationship we have with that government who felt the need to support.”
According to him, the project should have delivered its first, second or third batch by now if government did not neglect the project. He added that as the NAM of the area it was important to engage the government so that they can know that the monies spent belongs to all Gambians.
“This money are not spent just for the people of Foni or the natives of Kanilai but is meant to serve Gambians across the board. I engage the Permanent Secretary who has the institutional memory to explain to the Minister, who also promised to do everything to see that this project goes through,” Honorable Nyassi explained.
He reiterated that the project is meant for the people of the Gambia even though the primary beneficiaries will be the people of Foni. However, “the only way to move forward as a country is to differentiate between politics and development,” he stated categorically.
