The two newly appointed interim Chairmen of Banjul City Council (BCC) and Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), Messrs. Alieu Mboge and Gibou Jagne respectively, spoke to this reporter about their new status. The two were appointed by President Jammeh last Thursday barely a day after the amendment of the Local Government Act, in accordance with the requirement to dissolve and then set up interim management teams 90 days prior to local government elections. The teams are to be in charge of the affairs of the councils until such time that elections are held.

Speaking to this paper shortly after their appointment, Mr. Gibou Jagne, a onetime parliamentarian for 21 years in the first republic, said: “I think it is normal. I am very grateful to the president for his consideration in appointing me. I hope to do well. With the experience I have, considering that I have been a member of parliament for 21 years, I don’t think it is going to be a difficult thing for me. After all it is a matter of serving my own very self. I think it is also an obligation I owe to the president who, without my seeking it, appointed me to this very high post.”

Mr. Jagne indicated that his priorities would be to see to it that the municipality is united as one family in addition to securing cleanliness among others things. 

For his part, Mr. Alieu Mboge said that his priorities could not be tabulated because development has to be general, conceding that the appointment is a challenge to him. “Well I must first say that it is not a surprise, but rather something that has come my way, and is a challenge which I pray to have the strength to do it as it is the most important. I also pray to have the support of not only the electorate but the entire Banjulians.

“The task is enormous, all of which have to do with the development of Banjul. The president is very concerned about Banjul. It is the capital and we have to make it a modern city. That is the task that we have been given and we will do it to our best.”

Meanwhile it has been gathered that the Governors within whose administration the other dissolved councils lie have been put in charge of the interim management teams.

It would be recalled that the Local Government elections are slated for January 24, 2008.