By: Haruna Kuyateh
Kuntaur Area Council in Central River Region North is galvanising efforts to address land conflict through enforcement of proper documentation while urging contractors to pay their contract license to the council to enhance service delivery.
Speaking to The Voice newspaper in Wassu, Momodou Sambou, the Chief Executive Officer of Kuntaur Area Council dilated on the council’s commitment to the development needs of taxpayers and ease the movement of communities. He cited the rehabilitation of the roads in Niani ward among other examples.
He said the council’s strategic plan has 5 thematic areas: Provision of water, waste collection and management, and electricity expansion, number two – youths and women empowerment, number three – access to health services, the number four is the development of feeder roads and number five is strengthening of administration for better resource mobilisation and service delivery.
He disclosed that government subvention of D2million, unconditional development fund of D2million and the car park due of D2million paid by Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) for every six months contributed immensely to addressing financial challenges of the council and enable them to respond to the development needs of taxpayers within the LGA.
CEO Sambou said his council fully funded 4 boreholes’ water supply to communities while thanking United Nations Capital Development Fund UNCDF for complimenting council development efforts and human resource development at the ward development committees level. He used the moment to call for more partnerships with NGOs and others institutions to enhance the resource base of the council.
AnsuTrawally Senior Accounting Officer at Kuntaur Area Council said people should come forward and pay outstanding arrears of D438,000 owed to the council, noting that the delay in payment affects the council’s commitment to providing basic social services and infrastructural development.
He noted that the council has zero tolerance for non-payment of contract license levies to be paid by contractors.
Mustapha K Bah Physical Planning Officer said his office and council are working hard to ensure proper land management and documentation of land conflict. He disclosed that due to best practices and support from Alkalolu and therefore there is no report of any land conflict within the LGA.