NEWS BANJUL, THE GAMBIA (MB)- Under the Labour Intensive Component, forty youths were trained in the area of pavement blocks fabrication and laying of the block. The block totaling over 40, 000 were presented to Brikama Area Council during the launching in July 2010. The practical work for the implementation of the pilot phase of the project, commence in earnest, and youths has completed the laying of the blocks on the 180 meters long.
It was 3rd March, 2011 in Brikama, the Gambian Aency for the Management of Public Works (GAMWORKS) organised a formal handing over ceremony of the finished 180 meters pave street to the stakeholders at a colourful ceremony held at the site leading to the Brikama Health Centre.
GAMWORKS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Regional Intergration and Employment (MOTIE) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was charged with the responsibility of implementing the labour intensive and waste management technologies component of the GAMJOBS project.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, director of GAMWORKS, Mr. Ebrima Cham recalled that " about 18 months ago, my agency was contrsacted by GAMJOBS to champion the provision of livelihood skills training in the area of labour intensive technlogies whic is one of the main objectives of the project."
He adds; " this component was to be implemented under two sub-components namely the waste management and pavement blocks fabrication and laying adding that the sub-component need to be piloted in the municipalities of Banjul, Kanifing, and Brikama.
According to him, the two sub- components directly attracts stakeholders from different area of intervention, noting that GAMWORKS established links with Banjul, Kanifing, and Brikama, in addition, the National Environment Agency (NEA), Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI), National Road Authority (NRA) among other institutions such as Reliance Financial Institution, and the National Youth Services Scheme (NYSS).
Mr. Cham stated that the handing over ceremony of the paved street, marked and important day in the annals of his agency saying that " we ( the agency) are collectively celebrating not only the successful implementation of the project but also the first sub- project involving youth working in ;labour intensive technologies.
GAMWORKS boss remarked that as part of his agency objectives, is to provide jobs and alleviate poverty adding that the 180 meters strength paved road is at a strategic location in Brikama, providing access to various important facilities such as the health centre, market, car park, NAWEC local office among other destinations.
Madam Salimatou Touray, GAMJOBS national project coordinator, said at the gathering that the achievement of the project not only comes as a result of the excellent collaboration between GAMWORKS and GAMJOBS in the implementing of the pilot phase but serves to demonstrate the strong commitment of all partners involved in the project.
According to her, the event has been made possible due to the strong partnership that exist between the UNDP, government of the Kongdom of Spain and Gambia government stating that all the following are working to create an encouraging environment for young people to facilitate their effective insertion in the labour market and in the society in general.
She advised; " as we hand over this pave street to the Brikama Area Council, let me seize this opportunity to request to the council to do all in its power to ensure that the residents, the market sellers and other business operating on this stresst, to make it their business to ensure that the stresst is maintained properly."
She told the gathering that much advocacy needs to be done to sensitise all stakeholders in the benefits of keeping the drains and the roads clean adding that " we must endeavour to avoid offloading heavy duty equipments and goods on the paved road which would imapct negatively on its quality and shorten its lifedpan."
She further implored on all users of the paved road to consider the road as their own personal property and take good care of the road.
She finally thanked GAMWORKS, NRA, GTTI, NYSS and the forty young men and women for , what she desrcibed as their excellent partnership and hardwork to the success completion of the paved street in Brikama.
She then called on all municipalities, construction companiesvoperating in the country to endeavour to remeber to employ youth working under the GAMJOBS Labour Intensive Component when taking p road construction exercise in the country, while hailing Brikama Area Council for their support in facilitating their work.
Governor Lamin Sanneh of West Coat Region in his short and brief statement buttressed on the words of the previous speakers saying thayt the handing over ceremony clearly shows the commitment of GAMWORKS, GAMJOBS, and other partners involved in the projec.
He also advised the users the road to take ownership of the road, noting that for the long lasting of the road, it is advisable for them not to be offloading heavy goods on the road.
Mrs. Ashyme Saine- Kah of GWAMWORKS, delivered the welcoming remarks, Modou Jonga chaired the ceremony, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. Momodou Jallow chief executive officer of Brikama Area Council.
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