As the selection for the forthcoming local government elections looms, the aspirants for the ruling Alliance for Patriotic, Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party have given their views on their plans should they be elected to the capital city’s Mayoral post.

In an exclusive interview with The Point, Alhagie Saloum Njie, alias S.O. Njie, a veteran politician, said that one of his priorities would be to keep up the standard cleanliness of the city of Banjul and help address the sewage system in Banjul.

He added that he would also address the problem of wrongful parking of vehicles along the highway in Banjul, as well as forge links with other cities around the world.

Mr. Abdou Jallow said: “I have a lot of plans for Banjul. If given the chance, I will make Banjul a mega city because with my experience and having worked in the maritime industry, I can give a lot to Banjul.” According to Mr. Jallow, the policy of the APRC party touches the heart of each and every Gambian, saying: “Health and education will be top among my priorities for Banjulians.”

For her part, Mam Sai Njie, the last acting Mayoress of Banjul, said that she needed chance to serve for another term in order to complete the many development projects she started during her two-year term as acting mayoress.
She expressed the fear that putting a different person in the position could hinder the progress of some of the projects she had already embarked upon. “I have already finished plans to embark upon a housing scheme in collaboration with Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation for the city dwellers,” she said, noting that the plan is only waiting approval to kick-start.

Mrs. Njie-Sanneh added that she has already negotiated with Guaranty Trust Bank for a road and drainage project for Tobacco Road and six other streets in Banjul, including James Senegal and Peel Street.
Mrs. Njie-Sanneh added that she has also established links between the city of Banjul and Oostende in Belgium which, she noted, would run from 2007 to 2011. “The cleansing services of the City Council will benefit a lot from such co-operation,” she said, adding that the whole city council has been computerised.

Also speaking to The Point, Pa Majara Njie, a hotelier, said his intention to run for the position of Mayor is driven by his desire to improve the poor conditions of the city of Banjul and also to improve the housing schemes as well as poor sanitary conditions. “I will eradicate mosquitoes in the city of Banjul and also help in improving the road conditions in Banjul,” he said, adding that it would be part of his plans to train the staff of the council.
Mr. Samba Faal, the occupant of the position between 1996 and 2002, who is also the erstwhile president of the World Conference of Mayors in 2001, one of the aspirants for the Mayoral seat in Banjul. Mr. Faal, a lecturer in Local Government law and a private consultant, had earlier served as Town Clerk from 1990 to 1996.

Meanwhile in another development, it has been gathered that the interview for the aspiring candidates for the ruling APRC will be done tomorrow, Friday at 10a.m. in the APRC party headquarters in Banjul.