The Coordinator of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has reminded Gambians about the ousted regime’s blessings. In a write published verbatim, Omar Amadou Jallow believed this was necessary to put the record straight for the benefit of all, particularly the younger Gambians.
PPP (30) YEARS DEVELOPMENT ACCOMPLISHMED IN THE GAMBIA 1965 TO 1994
Fellow Gambians, I am forced by historic circumstances to come up with this write-up to put the record straight for the benefit of all, particularly the younger Gambians. Please take time and read it.
Since the AFPRC/APRC ascension to power from a Military take-over on 22nd July, 1994, many allegations, accusations and ill-remarks were leveled against the previous PPP government by members, officials and Party Militants of the AFPRC/APRC ruling council/government that during their 30 years of rule, they did not establish or construct anything in the Gambia compare to the 19 years of AFPRC/APRC rule.
During the 30 years of PPP rule, 1965-1994, they have established and constructed under “Acts of Parliament” and assistance from Donor Countries many public offices and public buildings in and around the Gambia which are herewith listed under the two headings namely-all of there were for the benefit of the people of the Gambia.
Public Offices Established by the PPP from 1965-1994
The Gambia Central Bank
The Gambia Commercial and Development Bank
The Gambia Port Authority
The Gambia Public Transportation Corporation
The Gambia Ferry Services
The Gambia National Trading Corporation
The Gambia Civil Aviation
The GUC/UHC/MSG
The Animal Health and Production Unit
The International Tryphano-Tolerant Center
The Radio Gambia
The seven Division Districts Area Councils
The Livestock Marketing Board
The Gambia National Army
The Gambia Law Reform Commission
The Gambia National Arts and Culture Center
The Gambia Technical Training Institute
The National Insurance Company
The Gambia Agricultural and Development Bank
The G.P.M.B-Cotton Gingery –Basse
The Social Security Housing and Finance Corporation
The President Office and Line of Ministries Offices
The Management Development Institute
The Gambia Telecommunication Company (Gamtel)
The Maintenance Service Agency (MSA) Kotu
The Gamworks
Children’s Village—Bakoteh (SOS)
All Government Departments
All Government Ministries
Jahaly Pacher
Rice Development Projects
Small Scale Development Projects
Low Land Development Projects
Forty Sales in the Gambia
Albert Market, Banjul
Central Abattoir Abuko
Public Service and Offices Buildings Constructed by the PPP from 1965-1994
The Gambia Central Bank HQ/Office Buildings
The Gambia Commercial and Development Bank HQ/Office Buildings
The Gambia Produce-Marketing Board (Constructed 7 Provincial Depots)
The Gambia Port Authority HQ/Office Buildings and Harbor
The Gambia Public Transportation Corporation HQ/Office Buildings and Depots
The Office of the President, Quadrangle, Banjul
Denton Bridge and Oyster Greek Bridge
The Brumen Bridge
The Supreme Courts HQ/Office Buildings
The Attorney Generals’ Chambers
The Gambia Police Force HQ/Quarters
The Banjul Police Barracks—New Lines
The Gambia Post Office HQ
The Yundum International Airport Complex
The Banjul/Barra Ferry Terminal
The Banjul Sewerage System
The Banjul Public Latrines
The MacCarthy Squire Stadium
The Royal Victoria Hospital (R.V.H) Children’s Wing
The Gambia School of Nursing
The Social Welfare HQ/Office Buildings
The National Independence Stadium, Bakau
The Kotu Power Plant
The I.T.C Complex—Sololo (C.R.D) Kerr Serign (KMC)
The Education Department Regional Offices
The Gambia National Army –Yundum Barracks
The Corporations Union Headquarters—Kanifing
The 82 Cooperation Managers Quarters Offices and Stores
The 82 Concreted Cooperation Seccos
The M.D.I Kanifing
The Gambia National Army –Farafenni Barracks
ROAD CONSTRUCTION
The Banjul/Serekunda Highway
The Brikama/Mansakonko Highway
The Soma/Basse Road
The Bassee/Fatoto Road
The Barra/Kerewan Road
The Sabiji/Kartong Road
13 Provincial Wharves/Jetties constructed from Albreda to Basse
Health Services in the Gambia in 1965-1994
From categories of health-care facilities were established after independence particularly after the “ALMA-ATER Declaration” Introducing primary health care throughout the world
1) Village Health Workers and TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS were appointed in all villages in the Gambia to give healthcare attention.
2) Over 400 health posts were established throughout the country for healthcare delivery by public nurses
3) Forty-five Dispensaries and Sub-Dispensaries units were
4) Major/Minor health centers—with funds from various donors were established
a) People’s Republic of China: Farafenni, Kaur, Sami Karantaba and Kudang, Kutaur and Kiang Karantaba health centers
b) British Government: Bakau, Serekunda, Essau, Kuntaya, Kerewan, Banjul Maternity wind, Refurbishing of R.V.H and Banjul Central Medical Stores
c) Dutch Government: Provided a disabled centers at Marina Parade-Banjul, and the Social Welfare Office at the same venue
d) Gambia Government: Provided other health facilities in Bwiam, Brikama-ba, Bureng, Sukuta, and Georgetown. The government also encouraged the establishment of health facilities by private individuals and NGO which are: Kololi Clinic, Ndebaan Clinic, Lamtoro Clinic, W.E.C Clinic, Sibanor Clinic, Chamen Clinic, Jajali Clinic,German Clinic, West Field Clinic, and Momodou Musa Njie Memorial Clinic.
e) Italy: Serekunda, Farafenni, and Brikama Clinics, Bundung Health Center (Nov J & P Hospital), Yorobowol Clinic, Independent drive Clinic, Expansion of Basse Health Center and Basse Hospital
Water Resources
The PPP government constructed of 350 concrete-lined wells throughout the country funded by E.E.C Japanese, Italian, and Saudi Arabian Governments. Fifty of the wells have solar powered/generator powered reticulation (running water system) including overhead tanks. The PPP government also encouraged the construction of similar wells by NGOs caritas, C.C.F and African Muslim Agency Muslim Aid. Because of the aforementioned developments, all the big towns and villages in the Gambia have clean running water independent of NAWEC.
Fishing Industry
Fishing Centers were established in the following towns and villages, many of which were equipped with ice-plants. All of the centers had fish drying and smoking facilities. Fishermen were provided with boats, nets, outboard engines within a framework of revolving loans:Karting, Gunjur, Tanji, Brufut, Albreda, Barra, the ice-plant in Brikama, Jurunku, Salikene, Tankular, Kemoto, Tendaba and Bitant.
Tourism
At independence, there were two Hotels, namely: Atlantic and Adonis hotels. The number now stands at thirty: the majority of the hotels from Wadner Hotel to Kairaba Hotel where done within the Tourism Development Area creation by the PPP government to facilitate hotel development in the Gambia. This area that facilitates the participation of small-scale Gambia entrepreneurs were established in Banjul, Wadner beach, Sunwing, Fajara, Kotu, Senegambia, and Brikama.
Tourism Car Parks
Hotel car parks were also established in several hotel clusters-Atlantic, Wadner, Sunwing, Kotu, Fajara and Senegambia.
Hotel Training School
Hotel training school was established to give Basic to Middle Grade Training to hotel personnel
Establishment of Educational Schools/Training Centers in the Gambia
|
1950- 1964 |
Primary Schools |
46 |
|
Secondary Schools |
5 |
|
|
Vocational Training |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1965 – 1994 |
Primary Schools |
262 |
|
|
Junior |
38 |
|
Senior Secondary Schools |
17 |
|
|
Management Development Institute |
1 |
|
|
|
Rural Development Institute |
1 |
|
|
School of Nursing |
1 |
|
|
Brikama College |
1 |
|
|
Non-Formal Education Center |
1 |
|
|
Cooperative Training Center |
1 |
|
|
GTTI |
1 |
|
|
Chamen Self-Development Center |
1 |
|
|
National Agricultural Research Institute |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In light of the forgoing, one with a clear conscience and good judgment will conclude that there were tremendous development made by the previous government without which the Gambia would not have been what it is today.
We continue to research to come up with more development projects and will publish them accordingly.
Mr. Omar A. Jallow (OJ)
……………………………
Coordinator of the P.P.P
I just put a count of his list on fingers. And if this is what my honorable is “proud of” after thirty years in power, I am sorry Gambians – the man has a very low expectation of himself. Unless our Gambianya is condense into a limited mindset, unambitious to take on broader prospects, this list certain and the bragging thereof jabs mockingly at us. In less than 5 years as the president, BoBima brought large scale development overhauls including the largest healthcare, communication and infrastructural projects to his nation. But even if this superpower is no match to our Gambia, as one might argue, it all come down to end results and the importance of keeping one another accountable for our actions.
But even If we were to reasonablly value these counts and assume that the PPP regime had for instance build 2 hospitals in the course of its useful life, the idea of numbers do not always count the service and quaity thereof are what gravitate folks to be impressed by. So many of the aforementioned projects were of no significance atleast to the banal. Ordinary folks or part of were separated from the benefits of them. The RDP and the Jahally Projects for instance were failures. What could have been helpful for Gambia’s self sustenance in Agric especially rice development end up being drawn to the ground by few individuals.
The case against “Sana Manneh” was one more evidence to proof the insensitive nature of the then PPP elites. Sana’s story held water in the court of law against those he accused, leaving us wondering why after his allegations and proven innocent against the governement ministers, the later continued to enjoy their ministerial positions.
And OJ himself said it best to their failures when in the mid-eighties (80s) he went around the nation – from Farafenni to Kaur and other groundut farming communities to put a dagger in their hearts by telling farmers that the government would not be able to buy their groundnuts because Momodou Dibba had somehow managed to loot all the funds set aside for that. He was going around with an empty “RANKESH” with just D48.00 (Forty-eight dalasis) in it.
Please bring me some new ideas my honorable. I need something new- something to console my heart and mind with from “those” PPP days if and only if you want audience. As put forth in “Baffour’s Beefs” with a population of less than 2 million and all the foreign aid, we could have done BETTER!
It have been better written but nonetheless, well done OJ.
Lamin T, based on what it says, this list is not exhaustive. They said they are continuing their research. I must say though, the presentation is not professional and it looks like not enough planning has gone into it.
Thanks
It could have been better written but nonetheless, well done OJ.
Lamin T, based on what it says, this list is not exhaustive. They said they are continuing their research. I must say though, the presentation is not professional and it looks like not enough planning has gone into it.
Thanks
This is a very desperate bid by former elites. The Gambia has moved on. PPP need a new name if they want to even be look at twice.
You guys are totally out of you minds! All what this old man stated are all concrete facts and every descent Gambia know this is all true! PPP did some mistakes but still they cannot be comparable with current government. If APRC started where PPP stopped then we will not be where we are. PPP built a foundation of a nation where the citizens like to live in. Today is a different, because everyone in that country want to leave and this worth some to even risk their life in sea. Whats wrong with Gambians? we don’t have nation anymore, we have country where everyone is desperate and want to leave to foreign, this was not happening that much during PPP days. wise up people and stop nafikiyaa bulshit Gambia!
Tell him to make it more professional next time Maba. I don’t why Gambians can’t take constructive criticism.
Thanks