By: Momodou Justice Darboe
Tourism Minister Hamat Bah has advised the regional coordinator of Banjul Ebrima Jawo to coordinate efforts to ensure the capital city is clean through and through.
The tourism minister on Wednesday suggested that Banjul is an eye-sore, hence the need and urgency for fruitful partnerships to ensure the city is rid of rubbish.
“There is something that I observed. If you are entering Banjul, your first sight will be trucks and trucks and you cannot tell where they come from. If you reach Gambia High School and the National Assembly area, you will think you are not entering Banjul. The capital is filthy with papers and other waste materials strewn everywhere,” Bah highlighted at the last meeting of President AdamaBarrow’s Meet-The-People tour held in Banjul on Wednesday.
The tourism minister admitted though that the cleanliness of Banjul is not within the purview of regional coordinator Jawo, it’s proper for him to provide strategic leadership to make the city hygienic.
“I would like to remind the regional coordinator that keeping Banjul clean is not part of your terms of reference. Your job is different from that of the mayor. The mayor has been elected by the people of Banjul. We offered the people of Banjul a mayoral candidate and the mayor also vied and won. So, she is the one in charge. Your work is to support the government in coordinating the activities of the government, especially in Banjul. However, work with the mayor, elders, youth, and women of Banjul. Coordinate them and help us thoroughly clean the city. We have confidence in you,” Bah underscored.
He added: “President Barrow has hope in you and that’s why he selected you. He [Barrow] did not tell you to undermine anyone. Adama Barrow does not undermine. He has accorded everyone his/her rights. You should take a cue from such a leader. He always insists on the rule of law.”
The tourism minister said the Banjul mayor should also take a cue.
“Rohey Malick Lowe should also learn because she has her seat but does not have the required councilors. That being the case, she has to manage with them [councilors] and put Banjul uppermost in her mind. Adama Barrow has recorded history but a lot of Gambians forget that. In the early 80s to 90s, President Mitterrand of France embraced a cohabitation with Chirac; the famous mayor of Paris. Chirac had the majority in Parliament and Mitterand was in the minority. They created what they called cohabitation and they worked together very well.
He [Mitterand] delivered to the people of France,” Bah said. He continued: “Let Rohey unites with the councilors so we develop the country. The coordinator should embrace this [cohabitation]. Do not side with anyone. President Barrow is the second president to do that[cohabitation] in Africa after President Atete of Mali. Atete did not have MPs but he ruled Mali well.
Adama Barrow is the second to embrace cohabitation. When UDP left him, he had five MPs from NRP and independents. President Barrow, I, and Musa Drammehused our experience and knowledge to manage the situation until all the bills went through the National Assembly; the most hostile parliament in the history of The Gambia. Adama survived it.
He succeeded. History is on your side. You and Atete have succeeded and Rohey Malick Lowe should consider Adamaas a mentor and learn from him. Wisdom is what takes a country forward and not force.”