Officials From Kerewan Area Council
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The breakdown of the ferry on Monday, February 26, 2024, had repercussions on the scheduled meeting between the National Assembly Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) and officials from the Kerewan Area Council.
The council’s appearance to discuss their activity reports and financial statements for the years ending December 31, 2020, to December 31, 2021, had to be rescheduled due to the ferry breakdown
The absence of ferry services led to the Finance Director of the council being stranded in Barra, unable to make it to the parliament for the engagement.
Sainabou Martin Sonko, the Chief Executive Officer of the Council, informed FPAC members that their Finance Director had been stuck in Barra since morning due to the lack of ferry services, with information indicating a 24-hour disruption.
“Our finance Director has been stuck in Barra since morning because of a lack of ferry service today and according to the information we received from them (Gambia Ferry Service) is that there won’t be services for the next 24 hours” Sainabou Martin Sonko, the Chief Executive Officer of the Council, told members of FPAC
She explained that unfavorable tides prevented the Director from using alternative boats, emphasizing the challenges faced due to the ferry breakdown. “I think the tides are not good today “.
CEO Martin told the committee members that their Director came all the way from Kerewan, only to be informed that there was a breakdown in ferry service and he was stuck at Barra.
Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, Chairperson of FPAC, noted that the committee had considered the ferry’s inconsistency when scheduling the meeting, allowing until 11 am for the council’s appearance to mitigate such issues.
“Unfortunately due to this breakdown, We will engage the Office of the Speaker so that we are permitted to sit on Friday to complete the business. I am, therefore, proposing an adjournment because the meeting cannot be held in the absence of the Finance Director which as explained is due to the breakdown of ferries” said Hon Darboe.
In light of the ferry breakdown, Hon. Darboe proposed adjourning the meeting to Friday with the approval of the Speaker’s Office, acknowledging the necessity of the Finance Director’s presence.
The committee members unanimously agreed to adjourn the engagement with the Officials of Kerewan Area Council to Friday to ensure the completion of their business.