Ismaila Sambou, Secretary of State for Local Government and Lands, has said that the reduction of the population of the city of Banjul is not due to the unavailability of dwelling houses but the fact that people are increasingly attracted to areas outside the city for a number of reasons including socio-cultural factors thereby leaving the dwelling houses unoccupied.

SoS Sambou made this remark at the National Assembly on Tuesday in response to a question posed by Abdoulie Saine, NAM for Banjul Central during the third meeting of the National Assembly in the third legislative session 2007. SoS Sambou revealed that it was for this reason that the Greater Banjul Land Use Plan designated some parts of the city (Banjul South, and parts of Banjul Central) as mixed use zones where the developments of stores are permitted.

According to him, this was deemed necessary taking into consideration the expansion of trade and commerce in the city, promotion of transit trade and also the proximity of these areas to the business part of Banjul.

Responding to a question from Lamin Ceesay, NAM for Sami as to what development project, Kuntaur Area Council have  undertaken in the last five years and what amount of tax was collected during this period, SoS Sambou revealed that the development projects that the Kuntaur Area Council have undertaken in the last five years are as follows:

The construction of a Court House at Tandikunda in the Sami districts, construction of a waiting shed at Bush Town, Sami district, construction of a pit latrine at Wassu Car Park, Kuntaur Wharf Town, and the construction of an open market at Wassu among others.

“The total amount of tax collected in the corresponding period are as follows: in 2003, D1,758,735.00; in 2004, D2,341,212.00; in 2005, D1,458,289.00, in 2006, D1,987,406.00 and in  2007, D1,233,977.00.

Also responding to Ebrima Jammeh, NAM for Bintang Karanai, on the plans  of Area Councils to work on improving cattle points in the rural areas because councils collect cattle  tax, SoS Sambou noted that all area councils are indeed concerned about cattle drinking points in their various jurisdictions and with their limited resources are trying to address this important issue.

“The councils all have plans to increase the allocation of funds to cattle drinking points plus all other essential services to their communities. It is hoped that this issue will be fully addressed in the not too distant future,” he added.

Other members who also joined the question and answer session included Essa Saidykhan, Member for Dankunku, Lamin Kebba Jammeh, Member for Illiassa, and Pa Jallow, Member for Jarra Central respectively.