By Aji Fatou Faal
Twenty million dalasis (D20M) Rural Infrastructure Development Project has been commissioned by Gamworks Agency through the OPEC Fund and the government of the Gambia at a handing over ceremony held at the Brikama Area Council grounds.
The construction on Brikama Area Council office building is one of the components of the project.
Delivering his official statement, Sheriffo Sonko, Chairman of Brikama Area Council revealed that the twenty million dalasis is funded under the Rural Infrastructural development Project of which council paid 8% as council’s counterpart contribution is expected to last for a period of ten months.
According to him, the project that they are about to handover its site is a one-storey building which if completed would serve as an administrative and town hall building that would house a greater number of staff of council.
In detail, he highlighted that it would house the office of the chairman, directorate of planning and development, administrative department, police and the courts among others. “I would therefore challenge the business community and yards owners to come forward and pay their taxes. Equally may I also urge the revenue collectors in particular to tighten their belts to maximise collection of revenue,” he stated.
Chairman Sonko stressed that under his leadership, it would no more be business as usual and he would do what it takes to ensure that the people of West Coast Region that “entrusted me with this big responsibility to get the development they deserve.”
Cherno Krubally, proprietor and winning contractor at Krubally Construction Frame, thanked Gamworks for the trust and confidence in awarding KCF a contract of this importance which is the construction of a state of the art office complex for the Brikama Area Council.
“Without boast or prejudice I can tell that this contract was not awarded by chance or luck but based on careful assessment of merit and performance,” he said.
He said the new government believes that development means improving lives and the Gambia is on a new development trajectory.
Mam Sait Jallow, CEO Brikama Area Council said they decided to prioritise the expansion, rehabilitation and refurbishment of council with a view to creating more office space.
“This is a clear indication that council is committed to undergo a transformation with a view to creating a congenial environment which would facilitate the building of council’s physical infrastructure,” he noted.
Omar Gaye, Technical director at Gamworks, said: “We are here to hand over the site to the winning contractor over the construction, the proprietor Krubally Construction who happens to be a resident of Brikama. So he has to do what you want him to do and we expect him to do that because he has been with us for quite a while.”
