By Mustapha Jarju
Tuesday 29th November 2022, Hullehmatou Jallow speaking on behalf of the women in Lower River Region (LRR) at a meeting on the President meet the people tour at Japinneh Jarra Central said, women in LRR are feeding their families out of charcoal money as they involve themselves in charcoal production due to poor farm harvest.
“If we the women of LRR don’t engage ourselves in charcoal production there will be nothing for us to feed our family. The charcoal that we are selling is not going as expected, though using the trees in the bushes for the charcoal business is not good for our society because we fall trees in the forest.
“Hulleh Jallow added that the message given to her by the women in her region to extend to the president is that, the women in the LRR are faced with a lot of challenges in this year`s rainy season, as their Groundnut and Coos harvested this year is poor.
“Your Excellency, from Kalagi to Kiang, let me tell you if you call a hungry person to come and eat he will be in haste to join you without hesitation, we have seen the electrification project but some are still waiting to get it,” she told the president.
The Focal point for the LRR women Hullehmatou said, the leadership of President Barrow for the past 6 years has rescued the LRR women from a lot of difficulties, but still there are challenges they faced. “Because we need water supply to improve your efforts for the people of LRR, they are crying for the same thing every year,” she said.
The Alkalo of Japinneh Borry Dampha also speak at the meeting, he praised President Adama Barrow for the newly appointed chief in Jarra Central Lower River Region (LRR), saying the president’s appointment of a new chief has saved the District from the chaos which could lead to violence.
“The entire Jarra Central, the Alkalos and the Imams as well as other traditional leaders, we have a delight to share with you (the president) that is the new chief that you appointed for us, it has prevented Jarra Central from verbal attack, you prevented us from violence and avoid us from disunity, that is enough for us and we praise and thank you for that,” the Alkalo of Japinneh told the president at a meeting in his village in Jarra Japinneh.
Alkalo Dampha added that, if there is anything development in a country there is peace in the first place, therefore, “thank president barrow for maintaining the peace in the country,” he reiterated.
Dampha further added that the Alkalos in the country are happy with the president for the allocation of monthly salary for the Alkalos which has never been the case since the colonial period.
“Since the time of the ruling of the white people in the Gambia what was not the case is what Barrow can do, paying the Alkalos, today there is a huge praise between you and the Alkalos, we pray for you to stay longer in your position. The good you intended for the country may God help you to fulfill it” the Alkalo of Japinneh Village Borry Dampha prayed for the president.