By Lamin Njie
Ebrima Sillah, the Minister for Transport, Works and Infrastructure has strongly called on the various stakeholders including contractors and consultants working on the Nuimi Hakalang, Kiang West, and North Bank Rural Roads Projects, as well as Lot 1 and Lot 2 and the Trans – Gambia Projects, to work harder to meet the targeted dates or risk facing the consequences.
The Minister made these remarks during the Project Steering Committee held on Friday, 22 July, 2022 at Mansakonko, in Lower River Region.
“We will have a frank discussion today with all the issues affecting these projects. We will look at everything that is delaying these projects. We will take remedial measures as recommended by the consultants” he stressed.
He reminded that they have had series of discussions over the last two years for some of the projects. “And if the same issues are repeated, then there is a strong need for the Government to take action so that public money is not wasted.”
Minister Sillah pointed out that Government will ensure that public money is spent on the right cause and not the other way round. “This is the decision of the President and it has to be implemented.
He clarified that it is not a witch-hunt. “We are not interested in causing trouble for anybody. But we cannot also sit and compromise on non-performance whilst people think they are at liberty to do what they want to do,” he asserted.
He went on: “Let me say that our relationship with the stakeholders including contractors and consultants is on one cardinal principle; that is the interest of The Gambia”.
The Works Minister further warned that Government will not accept sub-standard works from anyone at any time.“We are not going to settle for public officers who should tell us the truth and are not giving us the truth; no matter who is involved,” Mr Sillah concludes.