Who is Your Mayoral Candidate?
My name is Ousman Rambo Jatta a native (indigene) of Bakau. I was born on the 13th June, 1969. I am married with 8 children. My tribe is Gambia! I am a Businessman and Politician.
I attended Bakau Primary School and Latrikunda Secondary Technical School. I obtained a Secondary Four Leaving Certificate and later traveled abroad where I learned Travel and Tourism.
I speak seven (7) languages – English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Mandinka, Wollof and Fula.
Work Experience:
I worked as a Tour Rep & Excursion Specialist for Scandinavian Leisure Group SLG AB and later became Manager of Osprey Beach Bar at Sanyang. I also served as Coordinator for Rosie Marie Nursery School Bakau. I owned a company called Scan Tours Gambia.
In July 2016, I was appointed as Youth Mobiliser for Vision 2016 and later appointed as Deputy Permanent Secretary, then promoted as Permanent Secretary II and upgraded to PS1 Office of the President. I also doubled as the Managing Director & Editor in Chief of Daily Observer Company.
Political Career:
My political career began in the late 80s with the then NCP, as youth secretary. In 1996, I joined the newly formed UDP where I was an active and vocal youth leader. In 2004, I contested for the UDP in a by-election for the Old Bakau – Cape Point Ward after an elected Councillor absconded to the UK. I won with a landslide. In 2008, I was re-elected for a four year term under the UDP ticket.
In 13th June 2010, I was elected as the National Youth President of the United Democratic Party (UDP). in 2011. I Joined the Alliance for Patriotic, Re-Orientation & Construction (APRC) where I held the position of Bakau Constituency Youth Mobiliser and a member of the National Youth Coordinating Committee.
Achievements:
· In May 2003, I built a Community Nursery School in Bakau where orphans are offered free education through sponsorship programmes mainly from Scandinavian sponsors. About 1000 children are benefitting from the package to this day.
· In September 2004, 2010 and 2012, I organised and sponsored the first ever Councillors Unity Trophy in Bakau and also supported Nawettan (football) Clubs.
· In October 2004, I established a tour company called Scan Tours, The Gambia.
· In August 2009, I repaired 8 wells at the Bakau women horticultural garden in mile 7, opposite Radio Gambia.
· I addition, in September 2011, I acquired a fishing boat for the youth of Bakau in order to enhance their economic wellbeing.
· I went on to erect a concrete stage at the Old Bakau Community Center in the same year. The stage is used by the community during their events/programs (fundraising, weddings ceremonies etc.).
· In 2012, I repaired the gate of Bakau Cemetery as well as organise the community in ensuring that the cemetery remained clean.
· In November 2011, I bought the first rice milling machine and installed it at the Old Bakau Community Center. The proceeds from the milling machine pay the miller, his accommodation, the machine’s fuel and maintenance. The income from the milling machine also fuel the Mitsubishi pickup used by the community for funeral Services.
· In 2012, I funded the construction of slabs used by the community to cover the gutters around Bakau Bantaba and the front of the Central Mosque. This allows the rain water to flow freely and reduce the risk of flood disaster.
· In 2012, I funded the re-electrification of the Bakau Ice Plant, and the Bakau fish and vegetable market in a bid to improve the working condition of fish mongers, market vendors, fishermen as well as the preservation and security of the facility.
· I donated school and hospital materials through a Danish family worth over 3 million dalasi to both Bakau Lower Basic School and Bakau Health Centre.
· The items donated to the school have improved and enhanced the capacity of students in information technology (IT) which is in line with government policy for all inclusive education. In the same vein, items donated to the health facility have contributed to the reduction of maternal mortality rate.
· In September 2016, I distributed 1000 bags of urea fertilizer and 945 plastic buckets to Bakau women’s garden.
· On top of that I spearheaded the habilitation of the Bakau market in partnership with the Jumbo Company in providing over 100 market tables and other facilities for women vendors in the market.
· As part of community outreach services, in 2015, I funded the distribution of mosquito nets to Bakau Community Nursery School and the community. Thus reducing high prevalence of malaria.
· In the health sector, it is evident that primary health care service is paramount. Therefore in complementing government efforts in improving health services, I supported the Bakau Health Center with equipment such as wheel chairs, consultation/office tables, chairs, computers, labour and admission beds and mattresses.
Profile of the Municipality
(Kanifing Municipal Council)
History informed us that in 1965, the Government of the Gambia established the Local Councils from what used to be called Group Treasuries. Shortly after Independence, the Local Province Act was passed. As a result of the that Act, Local Government Authorities were established in all the Divisions, now called Regions except Banjul the Capital City of The Gambia.
Between 1965 and 1974, Kanifing Administration Area, which used to be called Kombo Rural Authority, was under the Administration of Brikama Area Council (BAC). However, due the population expansion and economic growth as well as urbanization within the Kombo Rural Authority, the Government, through an Act of Parliament in 1974, Kombo Rural Area was transformed into an autonomous Local Government Council. It stood alone since and was renamed Kanifing Urban District Council (KUDC). The same Act increased the number of Local Government Areas into eight.
In 1991, the KUDC was changed to a Municipal Council with a Municipality status due mainly to the metropolitan nature of the area. It was therefore renamed Kanifing Municipal Council with a Chairman at the helm of affairs. Since the coming into force of the Local Government Act, 2002, Kanifing Municipality elected a Mayor through universal adult suffrage. It was divided into wards too and Ward Councillors were elected into office. This move marked the beginning of decentralization and Local Government Reform.
Demography of the Municipality
According to the 2013 National Population and Housing Census, the population of the Municipality stands at 377,137 which accounts for 20.3% of the national population. This percentage shows a drop of 3.42 % over the 2003 Population and Housing Census, which represented 23.72% of the National Population.
Despite the drop in relation to percentage ratio of the national population of 2003, Kanifing Municipality witnessed a sustained population growth by 59,361 over the past decade thus representing 15.53% of its population. This represents a Municipal Inter Censual Growth Rate of 1.7%
The Municipal population is made up of 192,417 males, representing 50.3%, and 189,679 females, representing 49.7%. The Municipality is one of the regions (also Banjul and West Coast) with a higher male population.
Although statistics relating to the populations of infants, children and women within the child-bearing age (15-49 years) are not available, we can be confident their numbers, much like the Municipality, have increased significantly. This has a direct or indirect bearing on a wide range of social and economic/developmental services, especially the infrastructure within KMC area.
There are 67,119 households with over 35,000 properties. It is stated that the Municipality has an average household size of 5.7 persons. The Municipality has a population density of 5,057.5 persons per Km square, thus making it the second most densely populated Local Government Area.
This population density far surpasses that of the nation, which stands at 176 persons per Km square. With the current trend in population growth within the Municipal, it projected that KMC would double its population in the next twenty years (2033).
Due to the fast population growth, there is a need for plans to decongest the Municipality. Therefore, my priority actions will include collaborating with sister councils in promoting investment opportunities.
The Mandate of Kanifing Municipal Council
The mandate of the Kanifing Municipal Council as dictated by an Act of Parliament is to collect Rates and Taxes and provide social services to its people.
Therefore as the Mayor of the Municipality, my objective would be a provision of services with humility, development, inclusiveness, empowerment of youths and women, respect for the disabled, elders, children and other vulnerable groups who reside within KMC or benefit from the authority’s facilities/services.
We will take stock of what has been achieved, improve on the lessons learned and overcome challenges.
We will start with:-
1. Improving the cleansing services unit by providing the necessary tools and equipment with the ultimate goal of making the Municipality the cleanest.
2. Addressing security by engaging the Government, Municipal Police and citizens to institute or organise neighbourhood watch and ensuring that there are no safe havens for criminals within the entire Municipality.
3. We will ensure public places within the Municipality have security lighting and to ensure that Council properties and public places and businesses are well protected.
4. We will make efforts to bring in clean and renewable energy sources such as solar and wind farms to provide power to residents of the Municipality through public private partnership.
5. We will contribute 10% of Council total revenue annually into primary health care and educational services within the Municipality.
6. We will ensure that plans are developed for refuse collection and separation and that a lasting solution is found to the perennial problems related to the Bakoteh Dump site. We will turn it into a modern landfill
7. All illegal dumpsites will be controlled by ensuring that household rubbish collection is intensified and efficient.
8. We will design a systemic waste collection and disposal plan. The plan will look into waste segregation, transportation, construction of transit zones. A house-to-house collection schedule will be devised after the Bakoteh Dump Site is revamped in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
9. We will work with the Gambia Government and Agencies like National Environment Agency (NEA), Public Health, GAMWORKS, GiEPA and Gambia Standard Bureau to ensure that we develop and adhere to all governing standards in protecting our environment. We will bring in qualified actors for a medium and long-term solution to Municipal Waste Management.
10. Within 100 days in office, an Emergency Action Plan will be developed and implemented.
11. Media sensitization programmes will be carried out at all levels to engage the citizens and residents in a campaign to make KMC the cleanest, greenest and safest Municipality in Africa.
12. This will be accompanied by “Green KMC” Campaign as well as put Public Health measures against mosquitoes and other vector-borne diseases.
13. By 2023, we will ensure that KMC challenges Kigali as the Cleanest Municipality in Africa.
14. We will involve citizens, businesses, CBOs and Civil Society Organizations in environmental cleaning exercises by introducing awards to the cleanest community, or the most outstanding CBOs or Civil Society Group and it will be those engaged in cleaning exercises.
15. We will engage the Ward Development Committees to develop cost-effective four-year ward plans to be funded by the Council.
16. The Council will pay Ward Development Accounts amounts of D1 million to implement ward projects but these amounts will be revised positively due to the fact that we expect to grow the KMC revenue base over the period of my term.
17. We will provide better social services (waste management, education, sports, culture, employment, water supply, roads and city beautification) for the people of the Municipality.
18. We will ensure women empowerment, promotion of children’s rights, youth empowerment, domestic violence, ban child labour, support disabilities, and promote trade and investment.
19. Organising Municipality Trade Fairs including Sunday markets were local vendors would display their products and have the opportunities to make business is part of our plan.
20. Make annual contribution to Serrekunda general hospital for the upkeep of KMC ward, procurement of Municipal funeral van, and construction of mortuaries within the Municipality.
21. We will ensure that Council strategic plan and budgets are aligned to complement the Vision 2020, Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) and the new National Development Plan (NDP).
