By Mustapha Jarju
Yundum Barrack, one of the Infantry Battalions has inaugurated a newly drilled Borehole courtesy of the Ministry of Defence through a partnership with African Relief and Community Development.
The ceremony was presided over by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence and the Commander of the Gambia National Army. The Provision of the Borehole is part of the recommendations of the report of an Assessment tour conducted by the Ministry to military installations throughout the country last year.
Speaking at the ceremony, Commanding Officer 1 Infantry Battalion, Major Abdoulie Mboob extended heartfelt appreciations on behalf of Officers and Soldiers of his Battalion to the Ministry of Defence and Africa Relief and Community Development for their foresight of this initiative.
He assured the donors of using the borehole for its purpose.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the Gambia National Army, Brigadier General Ousman Gomez seized the opportunity to register immense gratitude to the leadership of the Ministry for initiating such a laudable gesture.
Brigadier General Gomez highlighted the significance of this gesture, saying the drilled borehole will curb an enormous gap of water shortage in the Camp.
The Brigadier General commended supporting partners for the resourceful intervention and urged the soldiers to take proper care and ownership of the newly drilled borehole.
Addressing the august gathering, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence Mrs. Rohie Bittaye Darboe on behalf of the leadership of the Ministry commended African Relief and Development for co-championing such a laudable initiative. The Ministry according to PS Darboe is working relentlessly to ensure that its oversight function over GAF is not only by title but also by actions and delivering.
Mrs. Darboe went on to assure the leadership of GAF that such initiative is expected to be replicated in other camps in the near future. She summed up by urging the soldiers to exercise patience as the Ministry is doing its utmost best to ensure that the welfare of soldiers is prioritized.