Mr Abdoulie Ousman Camara, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Works, Construction and Infrastructure, has said that the importance of the ferry services in our daily lives cannot be over-emphasised. In as much as this transport mode complements road passenger transport, it also contributes immensely in the endeavour for poverty reduction, he said.

The Permanent Secretary made these remarks on the occasion of the handing over by JICA of the ferry ‘James Island’, held recently at the GPA premises.

He said large numbers of people particularly women, are able to travel from rural areas across the river, often evacuating agricultural and other products for sale in markets located in more populous parts of the country. It is against this backdrop that the rehabilitation of ‘James Island’ must be viewed” he pointed out.

He said that James Island is not only important, but provides a safe and reliable ferry service to the Gambian populace. “Indeed the handing over of the James Island upon completion of the rehabilitation works is timely in that it affords the GPA the opportunity to deploy the vessel to enhance its operations and thus live up to popular expectations for the provision of a safe and reliable ferry service," he said.

Speaking earlier, the Director of Operations, Mr Halifa Bah, pointed out that this project was successfully implemented because they work as a winning team. He therefore expressed their heartfelt thanks to JICA, the government and people of Japan, for this wonderful grant-in- aid, and concluded thanking the resident representative of JICA and his able and competent staff who all contributed efficiently and effectively in the realisation of this project.