By Mariama Jallow
The community of Sanyang village in the Kombo South District of the West Coast Region (WCR), had received 1,000 bags of cement from the Gambia-Angola China Holding Group, otherwise called GACH Global, meant for the construction of a new car park for the coastal village. Executive members from the old garage cited lack of proper garage, where vehicles could park properly, as one of the main challenges the coastal village is facing.
Speaking at a presentation ceremony held on Saturday, 5 December, 2020 at the village, Mr. Abubakary Jawara, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GACH Global, underscored the significance of the gesture, saying among his objectives is to always ensure that the challenges Gambian communities faced are being addressed. He argued that government couldn’t do it alone, and therefore, it’s the responsibility of all Gambians to partake in nation building.
“I want all Gambians to know that am not someone who will destroy the country or any community in the country. As I always said, I want rapid development to come to the door steps of every Gambian. It’s also important, as Gambians, we support and embrace each other,” remarked the Gambisara-born businessman.
According to him, since 1926 mining activities has been going on in the country and within the community of Sanyang. However, this is the first time a purely Gambian company is involved in the business, Jawara said. Since the commencement of his mining activities in the area, Jawara said he has sponsored a lot of projects in Sanyang and the country, at large.
“Other companies were mining black sand in the area. They will take everything without even supporting the community where their activities were going on. For us, we have changed the trend. We will make sure that we support Sanyang community for whatever we can do as a company,” he vowed.
“I have seen what other countries are doing and what their citizens are doing in their respective countries. Therefore, I thought as a Gambian, I should also come back home and invest in the country. We will continue to strengthen our relationship with the community of Sanyang. I don’t want to see any community in The Gambia suffering,” the GACH boss told the Sanyang gathering. The development of the country in all aspect, he said, is among his priorities.
Claiming currently, he had employed more than three hundred Gambians, thus reducing the rate of unemployment in the country, Jawara continued, “we are not only into mining activities but even in agriculture, among others”.
“I want to make it clear to you all that, my company will not destroy any garden in Sanyang and any other community in the country,” the GACH CEO reassured the Sanyang villagers.
Mr.Yusupha Jassey, Secretary to the Sanyang Village Development Committee (VDC) thanked the CEO of GACH company for his continuous support towards the development of the village for the past year.
“Accidents were rampant at the old garage due to the fact that there was no space in the area. As VDC members, we feel it’s important to approach Mr. Jawara for support, of which he didn’t hesitate to answer to our call,” he highlighted. He also said Jawara didn’t only stop at supporting the village with the bags of cement, but he also helped the village with sand, and caterpillars to remove all the unwanted materials at the place allocated for the new garage.
The VDC Secretary recalled that the village school was hit with acute water shortage and it was difficult for the school children to have access to clean and portable drinking water, but it was CEO Jawara who came to their aid by providing a borehole for the school.
The President of Sanyang Garage, Mr. Faburama Sarr stressed it was even “a no-go area” especially during rainy season because water used to be everywhere within the garage.
“Now with the new garage, it will become history. These are the kind of development we need at the village,” he pointed out.
Ms. Bintou Jabang, speaking on behalf of the Sanyang women, held that, “Transferring the garage near the village market will go a long way in boosting the economic activities of the area.”
