By Fatou Sillah
The National Environment Agency has confirmed that the monthly cleaning exercise re-introduced by the Government will commence this Saturday, January 28, 2023. The statement, however, made it clear that vehicle movement will not be restricted, and shops would remain open. The Gambia Government however encourages business owners to clean the spaces in front of their shops.
This decision was relayed to the public in a press release we reproduced below:
” with the approval of His Excellency President Adama Barrow, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) have invited the general public to the maiden edition of the reintroduced monthly National Cleansing Day (NCD) exercise on Saturday, 28th January 2023 from 09.00 am – 13.00 pm
“While participation is voluntary, citizens and residents of The Gambia are encouraged to join the cleaning exercises in their respective neighborhoods and public spaces.
“The ministry advised that All collected wastes should be loaded into the trucks for quick and timely evacuation to the dump sites. Specifically, Cabinet Ministers, National Assembly Members (NAMs), Mayors, Governors, The Gambia Police Force (GPF), The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), Seyfolu, Alkalolu, Ward Councillors, the Business Community, The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), The Gambia Transport Union, youth groups, schools, women organizations and other voluntary associations are kindly requested to organize clean-up exercises within their respective communities.
“This communal cleansing exercise should be repeated monthly as a clean nation is a healthy and wealthy one. The vehicular movement will not be restricted and shops would remain open. However, The Gambia Government encourages business owners to clean the front spaces and access routes to their shops for enhanced environmental hygiene. Motorists, passengers, and pedestrians are advised to desist from disposing waste on the roadsides and other public places.”