By Nichols Bass
Governor Ousman Bojang of West Coast Region (WCR), last week Friday, in an interview with The Voice newspaper revealed that his office is engaging National Water and Electrical Company (NaWEC) in the supply of electricity and water to his people, while he enjoined Gambians to work together for a better nation.
He said during his tour of meeting the local leaders under his purview he realized that most of the communities in his region are without electricity and safe drinking water.
He, therefore, confirmed that he is currently engaging NAWEC for making available water and electricity for his people. ”Electricity and water are among the basic needs that the Gambian government is working hard in making sure that it is available for every Gambian. So, Gambians should work together for a better Gambia,” he stressed.
He noted that the Gambian government is spending massively on importing rice and vegetables to meet the needs of its citizens. He, therefore, encouraged everyone to go back to the farm in combating the high cost of commodities in the Gambian markets. ”The Barrow government is reviewing the laws of the land tenure system to come up with agricultural projects in mitigating the high cost of living in the country,” he emphasised.
However, he noted that the Gambia government cannot control the prices of commodities in the World Market which resulted in a high foreign exchange rate of currencies. “But it is our collective responsibility as Gambians to farm vegetables and rice in fighting against hunger and inflation. Farming is everyone’s business for it is a national call for every Gambian to invest in farming for a better Gambia that is free from hunger.” Governor Bojang stressed.
He went on that coastal sand mining has contributed greatly to rapid development in the Gambia and despite its negative impact it has created job opportunities for people which has improved the business sectors and it has boosted the Gambia’s gross domestic product.
He noted that the government of the Gambia has terminated the contract of some of the sand miners due to their negative impact on the environment.
More so, he added that construction cannot happen without sand, and for such to take place people living along the mining areas should understand the importance of sand mining to the country’s national development, and “the government is working very hard to mitigate the problems of sand mining in the Gambia.’’,
Speaking on youth empowerment, Governor Ousman Bojang claimed that the Barrow-led government is working hard to build more vocational institutions to empower youths to have skills while noting that vocational institutions are not for school dropouts but it is for everyone who wishes to have skills.
