The communities of Kotu South were on Thursday 31 July blessed with a D240, 000 worth of a public pump. This community has for several years been yeaning for such a project until the arrival of the couple Mr. and Mrs.  Diana Malick Susso sometimes last year. The philanthropies saw the need and quickly came to the help of the community. The project was handed over to the community in a grand meeting.

The deputy mayor of the Kanifing municipality, Mr. Yusupha Sanyang who deputized for the Lord Mayor of Kanifing Mr. Yankuba Kolley said development is vital and cannot go behind good health and water is a pre-requisite. It is an ardent belief of them at the municipality that the entire municipality should have access to clean and portable water. He therefore thanks the couple for sinking a borehole in the municipality. He said they are equally thankful to the Mayor of Banjul Mr. Samba Faal who is a community member of Kotu for all the support they got from him.

Mr. Jaiteh the ward councilor of the kotu South ward in his remark call on the members of the community to take ownership of the project. He also urged them to take full charge of the upkeep of the pump. Jaiteh said the idea to providing the community with this borehole was conceived at a time when there was acute water shortage around the neighborhood some time last year. This is a community that constantly faces difficulties in getting water, especially the women folk. This was what prompted Mr. and Susso to initiate modalities in raising funds in Netherlands with the view to alleviating the plight of the women and to create an environment were the people would access clean and portable water.

The councilor went on to say this noble gesture by the couple is worthy of commendation and it is in line with the Millennium Development Goals and the Gambia’s Poverty Reduction Paper ( PRSP ) which is continuously  being spear headed by our stead fast and visionary leader His Excellency Alagi Dr.Yaya AJJ Jammeh president of the Gambia.

At this juncture the councilor crave the indulgence  of the gathering to congratulate and thank the donors  Mr. and Mrs. Susso , and in the same vein to thank through the donors the people of Northern Ireland who contributed to this  noble project.     

Mrs.  Susso told the  meeting that when she bought a house at kotu  South she dug  a borehole in her compound , which attracted many people of the community fetching water from her compound. That was a clear indication to her of the water shortage that the people in the community are facing, this she said is what compelled her to do some thing about it.

When she returns home she decided to bank on a fund raising venture. She then invited her friends to a dinner where they were able to raise some money. She also told the meeting that her daughter’s school also raised some amount all of which came to a total of Two hundred and forty thousand dalasi (D240, 000) and that is what sank us this borehole.

Speaking on behalf of the women group, call BAHAA YAI SOCIETY, Aji Amie Gaye who is the Deputy Yai Compin, expressed their gratitude to the couple for coming to their help. Water she said is a very essential component of human needs, helping in that regard is well cherished. She ask for the couple to help with a skills training center, where the women can improve or learn new skills and become self reliance.