Kombo East communities of Pirang and Pirang Berending, Sunday launched a street naming project that was initiated and funded by the community’s Diasporans in partnership with the Village Development Committee (VDC).
According to the community’s development committee officials, the over one hundred-thousand-dalasi initiative will provide for easy identification of streets and homes as the community continues to increase in size. The initiative will cover the twelve wards in Pirang.
In early August this year, one of the twelve wards in the community also initiated a street lightening project which is now been embraced by the rest of the eleven wards to provide substitute for the streetlights that were provided by NAWEC.
Pa Ousman Touray, representative of the community’s diaspora association said they initiated the project to respond to the transformation of the community in both size and development. “Our plan is to identify the streets and their historical significance. The future plan is to register the street names with Google street view of which we have already filled the forms. This will be followed by house naming.”
The street naming is dedicated to the recognition of some of the citizens of Pirang who played important roles in the community’s development from establishment to date. Some of them included Lamin Kitty Jabang, the first National Assembly for Kombo East and first lady councilor of the area, Aja Nyima Bilama Bojang.
Sheriff Ka Bojang, a retired headmaster and historian said, “We dedicate the streets in the names of some of the heroes and heroines of Pirang in recognition of their services in the development of the community.”
According to Mr Bojang, Pirang has significant rich history in Kombo East, saying four of the six National Assembly Members who served Kombo East hailed from Pirang.
Alhagie Bojang, auditor of the Village Development Committee thanked the community’s diaspora association for the initiative, saying the street naming will enable for easy identification of streets and homes in the community. “Our diaspora association have been significantly support the development committee and we and the entire community will remain grateful to them.”
Former VDC chairperson, Borry Njie said their ultimate aim is to initiate a Google street naming in the community for easy identification as the community continues to increase in size. “Our Diasporans have great love for their community and continue to provide support. They have provided support in many areas including upgrading the community water borehole and medication and other development to the health clinic.”
Mr Njie thanked the community’s diaspora association for their significant contribution to the development of Pirang, assuring them that the VDC and the entire community will continue to recognise their efforts and contribution.
