President Adama Barrow has reiterated the commitment of his administration to bringing about real infrastructure development in the nation, stating that 365 kilometers of new roads are being built nationwide.
“My administration is making every effort to ensure that we handle the road network issue in the nation, despite the limited resources available to us. Making sure that every important road in the nation is built is my goal. I want to assure everyone that my administration is dedicated to resolving the road network issues that Gambians are facing, as seen by the ongoing development projects across the nation. 365 kilometers of new road would be built, costing billions of dollars in US dollars, the speaker said during a gathering held in Kombo Lamin, on the West Coast.

In response to complaints about poor roads in the region from those living in Lamin and the neighboring settlements, President Barrow stated: “Building new roads is difficult because every kilometer costs millions of dalasis.” In spite of this, we are dedicated to making sure that the nation’s main highways are built. In actuality, the Kombo contains half of the newly built roadways.
He continued, listing additional highways in the nation that are entirely sponsored by his administration, including the 86 km of road in Kiang, the 87 kilometer Hakalang road, and the 47 km road in Saba Sanjal. For the country’s progress, none of us can rely only on donors. My administration is altering the course because of this. We’ll devote a significant portion of the nation’s resources to nation-building,” he said.

In addition, Barrow encouraged young Gambian people to start their own enterprises, pointing out that “most businesses in the country, including tailoring, bakeries, and corner stores, are dominated by foreigners.”

Speaking about his National Development Plan (NDP), the president said that it would assist in pointing his administration in the proper path. “We will be developing strategies via the NDP to guarantee that court cases go quickly around the nation. In addition, it will enable us to monitor employee performance, enhance public service delivery inside the government, and digitalize our civil services, he hypothesized.

“Our social lives shouldn’t have an impact on our job. We will now be keeping an eye on our public employees. We will take money out of your pay if you miss one or two days of work. He threatened to suspend and perhaps even fire the person if it kept up.

He insisted that the NDP would implement microeconomic management that is intended to implement policies that benefit Gambians and that will significantly improve our businesses and economy. He also added that the government’s reform agenda will have an impact on the nation’s fisheries industry.

The minister of Works and Infrastructure, Ebrima Sillah, stated: “The Mandinary-Lamin Road was already surveyed.” She was also responding to some of the requests made by the local community. But as time went on, we realized that several complexes nearby would be impacted when we built the road, even though it was not included in the contract.

“I am pleased to inform everyone that as phase one of the project, the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance are collaborating to ensure that there is a bypass from Sting-corner to Abuko along the road from Lamin to Bafuloto and then to Brikama. Phase two of the project will once again begin in Abuko, return to Lamin, and then go to Mandinary. “The feasibility study contract will be awarded shortly,” he emphasized, adding that his ministry and the Ministry of the Interior are collaborating in an effort to reduce Bertil Harding Highway accidents.

The minister of tourism, Hamat Bah, provided clarification on the president’s recent remarks about tax increases that have generated controversy in the nation. He stated: “I want to make it very clear that the president is referring to individuals who own businesses in the country and who do not pay taxes.” That is not acceptable, and it will never be compromised by the government. “In January 2024, a taskforce consisting of various stakeholders will be established with the objective of ensuring that individuals who fail to remit their taxes are appropriately addressed.”

“There are individuals engaged in the commercial sale of compounds.” You visit an attorney after selling your compound for five million dalasis, and he prepares for you a document worth two million dalasis. He stated, “The individual will be addressed once we obtain you.”

Lady Councillor Kaddy Sanyang stated, “We want the president to financially assist and empower women’s Kafos in the region. Furthermore, we advocate for the appointment of women to district tribunals by the government, so that women are duly represented during proceedings in district courts. The president should assist the ladies of Lamin with their health center, as well.