By Mama A. Touray
Director of Governance at the Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs, David Gomez on Tuesday testified before the Commission on the redeployment of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Kanifing Municipal Council.
Testifying at the Commission held at the Djembe Hotel in Senegambia, Director Gomez cited Banjul City Council’s response regarding Fatou Taal’s deployment to Kanifing Municipal Council saying “We communicated to Fatou Taal and we wrote to our CEO about her coming back after seven months of absence. We are not the right authority to decide on her fate in Banjul City Council. However, as a council we have moved on, currently registering huge gains with a great spirit that will all be jeopardized with Fatou Taal’s coming back to the ranks, her tussle and conduct in the past will further disrupt the flow of work”.
On BCC, he continued: ”Our position is and remains that after seven months of absence, her time is respecting management of Banjul city council, Fatou Taal, is not a team player and her coming back to Banjul city council will disrupt everything positive that has been built and cement in her absence, she has faulted our request to write to us to apply for sick leave and her lack of compliance with council’s directives has been brought to the attention of the local government service commission some time ago”.
He said the letter from BCC further cited that the Council is not ready to welcome her (Fatou Taal) and this is their position as the matter they put to the commission is a decision and action.
Director Gomez also highlighted the stance taken by the local government service commission stating that “According to the Local Service Commission, analyzing the situation they want to accord her (Fatou Taal) with a hearing but she was out of the country as at the time. So, that was not possible eventually after the writing from both sides the Commission concluded that the best option to pursue was to transfer her to Kanifing Municipal Council”.
Gomez agreed with Counsel Patrick that the Deputy CEO not being in the country is not a good reason to redeploy her to Kanifing Municipal Council.
“One will be corrected to say that you rely on the response of the Banjul City Council to redeploy the deputy CEO to the Kanifing municipal council,” (the counsel said) while the witness, Director Gomez, agreed to this statement put to him by Counsel Patrick Gomez.
