By: Nyima Sillah
The Second Vice President of the United Democratic Party Youth Wing, HagieSuwareh has criticised President Adama Barrow over the cleaning exercise he participated in Banjul last weekend, saying that the president has so many other hazardous and harmful environmental problems where he should demonstrate leadership rather than in Banjul.
Among the places mentioned are Gunjur, Sanyang, Tujereng, Tanji, and Banjul coastal areas .
Mr. Suwaneh pointed out that Gunjur and Sanyang, where fish meal factories and sand mining activities are causing environmental havoc, and destroying and damaging the livelihood of thousands of people should be among priority areas.
“The cavalier attitude of Barrow and his government towards the environment causes great health risks and creates abject poverty in the communities living around the coastal cities, towns, and villages,” he added.
He explained that instead of him (Barrow) concentrating on good leadership and good governance he chooses to copy former President YayaJammeh’s style of rule.
Suwareh however suggested that creating good governance and good leadership will undoubtedly solve all these unhygienic and unclean problems throughout the country and it would be unnecessary for the president to organize a “Set-Settal” which he (Suwareh) said is a sign of failed leadership and bad governance.
“If the system is working well, there will be no need to call or organize a retarded “Set-settal” jamboree. Keeping Banjul clean is the responsibility of the Banjul City Council (BCC) and Mayor Rohey Lowe is doing a fantastic job since elected,” he claimed.
Suwareh further pointed out that what Barrow should have done is to fulfill his responsibility as head of the central Government, work with the councils and stop the financial strangling of councils.
He further revealed that Barrow deliberately failed to pay the council annual development subsidy as stated by the Local Government Act which could make a huge development difference within communities and improves the livelihood of many people.
“Barrow should have taken that Saturday to visit our hospitals not only EFSTH in Banjul, but all hospitals across the country to get first-hand information from nurses, doctors, patients, and the general staff, but he continued to ignore the public outcry, about our poor health sector and constant sit-down strike of public health workers,” he stressed.
