The exercise, according to VDF officials, is part of a series of development activities earmarked for various communities in the Kanifing Municipality and West Coast Region, whose roads are often rendered unmotorable due to massive potholes and stagnant pools of water during the rainy season.
The roads currently under rehabilitation include Latrikunda Piccadilly road linking Wellingara Horticultural Centre and Nema Kunku Road.
Speaking to the press during the exercise, Momodou Manta Jallow, the national coordinator of VDF, underscored their patriotic zeal and readiness to complement government’s efforts in national development. “This is part of the commitment of VDF founder to support the nation and humanity at no cost. He believes that a good road network is an essential pillar of development and that’s what motivated the founder to embark on this laudable initiative.
“This road rehabilitation for communities is part of Turo Darboe’s efforts to ensure that people have access to better roads and clean environment free from malaria and other environmental hazards that are all linked to stagnant water. We plan to extend the gesture to Wellingara, Brikama and other parts soon before the rainy season.”
The chairman of board of directors for VDF, Mr Lamin Dibba, who led the team on an inspection of the exercise underscored the importance of people having access to better roads to facilitate smooth running of business. The exercise, he said, is in fulfilment of their strategic goal of improving people’s lives.
The councillor for Latrikunda ward, Pa Ousman Fatty, expressed delight and appreciation for what he described as a “patriotic endeavour” adding that the exercise has attracted various youths and elders within the communities to also participate in the exercise.
The Latrikunda APRC ward chairman, Yerro Njie, said that the latest move by by VDF was not a surprise to many residents within Latrikunda Sabiji and Piccadilly because Turo Darboe has been very supportive not only to the community of Latrikunda but to the entire Gambian nation. “He has been supporting mosques, churches, Muslims and Christians, institutions, individuals, poor and needy.”
He said the many efforts being made by Mr Darboe to support the nation and humanity as a whole is something that he inherited from his father, whom he described as “very generous”. He challenged Gambian people particularly the youths to give their unalloyed support to the initiative, and emulate him.
Talibo Konjira, secretary general of Latrikunda Sabiji Ward Development Committee said the road rehabilitation initiative could not have come at a better time given the fact that during the rainy season commuters, drivers and road users are enormously encumbered in movement due to potholes and stagnated water on the roads.
Mr Salifu Dampha, a resident of Latrikunda Piccadilly said: “This road has invariably created a nightmare for us especially during the rainy season but thanks to Turo’s intervention, we can breathe a sigh of relief.
.“This place used to be a waterway, so we are grateful to Turo for considering us among a host of other communities. National development can only be achieved through collective efforts as the government cannot do everything alone. I call on others to emulate Turo and I thank the youths for coming out to support the exercise”.
Meanwhile, VDF took the opportunity to appeal to the government to do more in creating the enabling environment for them to operate and further contribute towards national development. This came following the holding of some VDF trucks loaded with gravel en-route to the rehabilitation site causing delay.
By Sainey Marenah
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