By Yero S. Bah
Tourism, culture and history are inseparable in the advancement of economic growth in any nation, including the Gambia. Mansa Banko Online on Friday May 29, 2020 had a remote interview with the Destination Manager of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North Bank Region, notably Kunta Kinteh Island and its related sites, Mr. Ebrima Jammeh, to shed light on the current tourism experience in upcountry amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He noted that the tourism sector is really encouraging and there are so many opportunities, adding it has exposed him to the outside world. Jammeh said he had gone through some few travels within Africa and Asia as he continues to learn about the job; and that he was to attend an “Online Conference” with the International Centre today {Friday}for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments (ICCROM).
He, however, explained that the tourism situation in Albreda and Juffureh is the least pleasant because the COVID-19 has affected not only tourism but the community as well. He decried that the small-scale industries are not functional, noting “everyone per se is affected”, particularly pointing to women and artists.
The Destination Manager disclosed that tourist visitations to all their sites in Niumi had been halted, lamenting “this is not appealing”. He seized the opportunity of this interview to call on potential donors agencies and philanthropists to come to their aid, especially the said communities.
Hear Jammeh again: “I am sincerely appealing to donor agencies, philanthropists and individuals to come to the aid of the two communities.” The Cultural Officer for North Bank Region, Banjul and West Coast Region went further to state that, Kunta Kinteh Island and related sites were inscribed under UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2003.
He added that the serial listing which includes the Kunta Kinteh Island, CFAO building, Portuguese Chapel, Mural Freres (Slave Museum), San Domingo Ruins, the two villages Juffureh and Albreda, are the sites within the purview of Juffureh and Albreda. According to him, Fort Bullen in Barra is also within their jurisdiction. While noting that the CFAO Building and the Slave Museum are in a “stable condition”, Jammeh however, bemoaned the present state of the Kunta Kinteh Island, saying it’s in a “very dangerous stage”; albeit he acknowledged that efforts are underway for the restoration and preservation of the historical Island which had put The Gambia on the global stage by virtue of its slavery connection to Kunta Kinteh who was taken into enslavement from Juffureh to America, centuries ago. He disclosed that he has written a project proposal to the US Embassy and now waiting for approval, intimating that there are greater hopes.
The Destination Manager for all tourism and cultural assets of the Region further informed that, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and its satellite institutions, as well as the local Communities all have great concerns about the {unpleasant} state of the Island, but echoed that hopes are high for restoration.
As of now, he reiterated, there are no tourists arrivals from across international borders and internally as movements to the sites were curtailed due to the coronavirus safety protocols declared by the government of the Gambia.
Jammeh added, “Based on the gravity of COVID-19 we thought is wise, following the Presidential declaration to close all Sites and Museums.” He said the pandemic started at a time they used to receive lot of visitors, but now the sites are virtually empty. “It has seriously affected businesses completely.”
He intimated that tourism is important to the Gambia for the fact that it leads to job creation, booming of businesses, sustainability of our culture and tradition, leading to economic growth.
But he admitted that, it comes with disadvantages such as the menace of bumbsterism, environmental problems such as littering, resulting to pollution, drug addiction and prostitution.
However, he said the state is doing a lot to control the negative aspects of tourism, so as to improves the sector.
Jammeh, who’s a former student of Nasir Ahmadiyya Senior Secondary, the Gambia College and University of The (UTG) recollects that life was hard for him and his family having lost his father at his {Ebrima’s}tender age and had to grow up with his mother alone. That he was even unable to settle his school fees of D750.00 for the whole year at Nasir in 1989 and 1990; and his mother also was unable to pay it for him. “Frankly speaking, it was very hard for me to come this far,” recalled the man in-charge of North Bank’s tourism and cultural sites.
