By Adama Makasuba
The President of Republic of The Gambia His Excellency Adama Barrow has assured that the country will host the OIC summit during a laying down foundation stone of $100 million Radisson Five-star Blu Hotel over the weekend.
“Let me use this opportunity to emphasise that The Gambia will indeed host the Summit, and we are on track to doing so in a spectacular fashion. We have the will, the ability, and the resources to do so. In short, we have the capacity, and by God’s grace, we will succeed. Small as the country may be, The Gambia has always captured the attention and imagination of the world, primarily, for all the right reasons. History is, therefore, on our side.
“The General-Secretariat in Jeddah and the entire membership of the OIC have expressed, in no uncertain terms, their fullest support to us in this endeavour. During his recent visit here, the Secretary-General re-echoed these sentiments. We are now engaging the General Secretariat and other partners to agree on a suitable date for the event,” he said.
“While the support of our allies and development partners continue to encourage us as we prepare for this important global gathering, we will neither be complacent nor allow anyone to distract us. My government will ensure that the contractors, consultants, and all other stakeholders deliver and complete all the necessary infrastructure projects on time.
“The OIC Summit Projects are designed to be legacy projects, and their advantages, benefits and impact will far outlive the Summit. For this reason, we will make sure that we get it right in the best interest of the nation and the global Muslim community. We will not accept indifference or foot-dragging anymore,” he assured.
According to him, he has directed the revival and immediate strengthening of the various levels of coordination and oversight bodies and functions, including the Project Steering Committee and the Project Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure.
Meanwhile, he described the project as one of the major infrastructure development projects for the forthcoming OIC Heads of State and Government Summit to be hosted by The Gambia.
“I am particularly excited about the prospective impact of this mega project on lives and livelihoods in the country. With a portfolio of One Hundred Million US Dollars (US$100 million), this proposed five-star hotel project is the single biggest investment in the tourism sector since the country attained Independence in 1965. More significantly, compared to the other OIC Summit infrastructure projects, it is the single biggest investment portfolio ever of its kind on Gambian soil. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is heartening that, within three years, my government has successfully mobilised more than Three Hundred Million US Dollars (US$300 million) in our effort to host the world’s biggest organisation of the Muslim Ummah. Heartily too, we are hosting the Summit in accordance with our trademark hospitality as the “Smiling Coast” of Africa,” he added.
