By Buba Gagigo
MC Cham Jr., Business Councillor at Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) has issued a response to Minister of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure Ebrima Sillah following the minister’s criticism of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) for allegedly “misinforming” women vendors.
In his interview with For the people by the people show, Minister Sillah stated that the KMC should provide markets for vendors who dutifully pay their fees to the council. However, MC Cham Jr pointed out that the minister overlooked President Barrow’s assertion that the markets are owned by the central government. Additionally, MC Cham Jr highlighted the financial challenges faced by the KMC in 2018 when the council’s coffers were nearly empty. He attributed the subsequent financial stability to effective leadership and hard work.
“He said KMC should provide markets for the vendors who are paying their duties to the council but he forgot that his boss president Barrow said the markets are own by the central government. Secondly he said KMC’s budget is more than some ministries but he forgot when the mayor was coming in 2018 the council coffers were empty. It is due to his good leadership and hardwork that the council is able to get all these money he’s talking about,” MC Cham Jr said.
According to the Business Councilor, the KMC has been requesting land from the government for six years to construct markets for vendors, but their requests have been denied. He questioned why the council is blamed when it lacks the necessary support from the government. Despite this, the KMC has made significant efforts, including plans to build seven markets to assist vendors. However, the government’s refusal to allocate land for these markets remains a hindrance.
“How can he blamed council when even the subvention that council should get from the government is not provided? The councils are still not given the independence to manage their own staff. Infact how many markets were built by KMC? Too many of them. About the operation clear roads, despite KMC’s efforts to construct seven markets to aid vendors, the government persists in withholding land for these projects. Instead, the president appears preoccupied with opening political bureaus, neglecting the suffering of the masses,” he remarked.
MC Cham Jr also raised questions about the achievements of the National People’s Party (NPP)-led chairmen in the four councils they now govern. He challenged them to demonstrate tangible accomplishments within their respective councils, emphasizing that KMC’s success was a result of effective leadership and revenue generation.
“Currently, the NPP has won four councils, with many of them having new chairmen. However, what progress have they made? What accomplishments can they point to? So far, they haven’t demonstrated any significant achievements in their respective councils. It’s worth noting that KMC has effective leadership, which is why we’ve seen the revenue growth he mentioned, and importantly, this revenue is being reinvested back into the community,” he said.
MC Cham Jr. unveiled a groundbreaking development in the Gambia, revealing that all nineteen wards within KMC will have new roads constructed by the council, a first in the country’s history.
“This remarkable achievement has only been made possible under the leadership of Talib Ahmed Bensouda. I find Ebrima Sillah’s remarks about KMC shameful; such criticism shouldn’t come from a minister. As the Minister of Works and Transport, Ebrima Sillah should address pressing issues like the poor condition of the ferry, which has caused immense suffering for people. Furthermore, despite KMC’s efforts, the government has denied us a license for our community radio. Instead of attacking, they should focus on finding solutions for citizens. Everything Bensouda stated is factual,” he concluded.
MC Cham Jr is a nominated business councilor at the Kanifing Municipal Council and a member of the United Democratic Party (UDP).