505 22
Government ministries and departments have been urged to synergise their programmes and activities so that actions could have maximum impact as well as deliver positive results in the country’s drive for national development.
Hon. Jato Sillah, The Gambia’s minister of Forestry and the Environment made this remark during a visit to the office of the National Environment Agency in Basse, Upper River Region. The visit is part of his nationwide tour to forest resources and sites. He Minister was accompanied to the agency by a high powered delegation including Dr. Babagana Ahmadou, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative to The Gambia, permanent secretary, the two deputy permanent secretaries and various heads of departments under his ministry.
According to him, this can play a significant role in the country’s national development efforts. He said that the President, His Excellency Sheikh Prof. Dr. Alh. Yahya AJJ Jammeh has taken all ministries to task to cooperate with one another in the quest for national development adding that the cabinet has also tasked the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Local Government and Forestry and Environment to collaborate in making the country a clean nation to live in especially during the monthly environmental cleaning exercises. He said that the President has emphasized the need for the above ministries’ collaboration in making sure that Set Setals are done successfully in the drive to achieve the health status the country requires. He noted that they have already established a task force that will look into the issue and that soon they will start sensitizing regions on the importance of conducting the monthly Set Setals. He added that there will also be monitoring officers who will monitor the activities of regions and communities. He said that any region or community that fails to address the issue of waste management will be called to account.
Momodou Jeng, the NEA officer in Basse said that they encounter problems in garbage collection as they only have one tractor. He observed that plastic bags are always rampant on the streets of Basse describing the situation as a nuisance. He informed the minister that the regional office is now engaged in sensitizing the communities on the importance of keeping their environments clean through radio programmes. He further observed that the population of Basse is increasing thus increasing the problem of waste management. He concluded by calling for a ministerial intervention by providing them enough resources to execute their duties adding that without enough resources, they will not achieve their goals.
Lamin Nyabally, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Forestry and Environment said that the reluctance of people to come out for the monthly Set Setals has been observed even at cabinet level and thus challenged the people to keep their environments clean.
In a separate meeting with officials of the Basse Regional Forestry Office, Babanding Sanyang, Regional Forestry Officer said that the administrative system of the Basse regional forestry office has been decentralized into four administrations namely; Jeloki, Diabugu, Bakadagi and Suduwol. He noted that the reason for the decentralization is that they started facing challenges to meet up the forestry regulation and policy considering the largeness of the forests under their regional office. He added that the decentralization of the administrative system is also geared towards getting closer to the communities they are serving. He said that many people are engaged in illegal felling of palm trees at night adding that the decentralization will help involve the communities in the protection of the forest. He lamented the lack of cooperation among villages which is affecting the work.
He said that the felling of tress for rice cultivation without the consent of authorities is also becoming a challenge to them and therefore called for the Ministry to intervene.
He also appealed to the ministry for mobility and motivation of staff adding that they only have two motorbikes with ten staff members. He said that the lack of promotion for staff members is another problem they face. “We have the will to work but the resources are lacking. We also have three vacant positions for forest scouts and I want to appeal to the minister for these gaps to be filled,” he appealed.
In his response, the Forestry and Environment Minister called on Gambians to be united adding that if the people are not united; there is no way we can achieve our desired goals. He promised that his ministry will intervene in addressing the difference between communities. He also commended the newly appointed forest scouts in URR adding that only committed Gambians take up such jobs.
Abdoulie Sanneh, Director of Forestry promised his ministry’s intervention in illegal felling of trees and also promised his ministry’s support to the Basse Regional Office. He emphasized the importance of mobility adding that the issue of mobility to forestry stations is an immense concern to their ministry and a key issue in the ministry’s agenda. He said that in the past, all other ministries focused on forestry for mobility due to several projects that they were benefiting from and urged foresters to be patient.
Government ministries and departments have been urged to synergise their programmes and activities so that actions could have maximum impact as well as deliver positive results in the country’s drive for national development.
Hon. Jato Sillah, The Gambia’s minister of Forestry and the Environment made this remark during a visit to the office of the National Environment Agency in Basse, Upper River Region. The visit is part of his nationwide tour to forest resources and sites. He Minister was accompanied to the agency by a high powered delegation including Dr. Babagana Ahmadou, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative to The Gambia, permanent secretary, the two deputy permanent secretaries and various heads of departments under his ministry.
According to him, this can play a significant role in the country’s national development efforts. He said that the President, His Excellency Sheikh Prof. Dr. Alh. Yahya AJJ Jammeh has taken all ministries to task to cooperate with one another in the quest for national development adding that the cabinet has also tasked the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Local Government and Forestry and Environment to collaborate in making the country a clean nation to live in especially during the monthly environmental cleaning exercises. He said that the President has emphasized the need for the above ministries’ collaboration in making sure that Set Setals are done successfully in the drive to achieve the health status the country requires. He noted that they have already established a task force that will look into the issue and that soon they will start sensitizing regions on the importance of conducting the monthly Set Setals. He added that there will also be monitoring officers who will monitor the activities of regions and communities. He said that any region or community that fails to address the issue of waste management will be called to account.
Momodou Jeng, the NEA officer in Basse said that they encounter problems in garbage collection as they only have one tractor. He observed that plastic bags are always rampant on the streets of Basse describing the situation as a nuisance. He informed the minister that the regional office is now engaged in sensitizing the communities on the importance of keeping their environments clean through radio programmes. He further observed that the population of Basse is increasing thus increasing the problem of waste management. He concluded by calling for a ministerial intervention by providing them enough resources to execute their duties adding that without enough resources, they will not achieve their goals.
Lamin Nyabally, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Forestry and Environment said that the reluctance of people to come out for the monthly Set Setals has been observed even at cabinet level and thus challenged the people to keep their environments clean.
In a separate meeting with officials of the Basse Regional Forestry Office, Babanding Sanyang, Regional Forestry Officer said that the administrative system of the Basse regional forestry office has been decentralized into four administrations namely; Jeloki, Diabugu, Bakadagi and Suduwol. He noted that the reason for the decentralization is that they started facing challenges to meet up the forestry regulation and policy considering the largeness of the forests under their regional office. He added that the decentralization of the administrative system is also geared towards getting closer to the communities they are serving. He said that many people are engaged in illegal felling of palm trees at night adding that the decentralization will help involve the communities in the protection of the forest. He lamented the lack of cooperation among villages which is affecting the work.
He said that the felling of tress for rice cultivation without the consent of authorities is also becoming a challenge to them and therefore called for the Ministry to intervene.
He also appealed to the ministry for mobility and motivation of staff adding that they only have two motorbikes with ten staff members. He said that the lack of promotion for staff members is another problem they face. “We have the will to work but the resources are lacking. We also have three vacant positions for forest scouts and I want to appeal to the minister for these gaps to be filled,” he appealed.
In his response, the Forestry and Environment Minister called on Gambians to be united adding that if the people are not united; there is no way we can achieve our desired goals. He promised that his ministry will intervene in addressing the difference between communities. He also commended the newly appointed forest scouts in URR adding that only committed Gambians take up such jobs.
Abdoulie Sanneh, Director of Forestry promised his ministry’s intervention in illegal felling of trees and also promised his ministry’s support to the Basse Regional Office. He emphasized the importance of mobility adding that the issue of mobility to forestry stations is an immense concern to their ministry and a key issue in the ministry’s agenda. He said that in the past, all other ministries focused on forestry for mobility due to several projects that they were benefiting from and urged foresters to be patient.
