Fatou Jasseh-Kuyateh, Permanent  Secretary, Office of the Vice President on behalf of Vice President Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy who is also the Chairperson of the National Disaster Management Committee, accompanied by Essa Khan, National Coordinator of the UNDP Supported National Disaster Management Programme on Tuesday visited the buildings ravaged by fire at a section of the Serrekunda Market.

The incident last Saturday, affected eight shops owned mostly by Gambian business entrepreneurs. 

In a brief discussion with some of the affected shopkeepers and the Interim Mayor of KMC, Gibou Jagne, Fatou Jasseh Kuyateh conveyed Vice President Njie-Saidy’s heartfelt sympathy to the affected people over the unfortunate incident. She emphasised the importance of disaster preparedness and prevention and called for the effective sensitisation of market communities on disaster prevention and mitigation methods especially the need to enhance standards of best practice in order to avert or mitigate incidents of this nature.

She added that it is for this reason that the government with support from the UNDP is on the verge of finalising a national policy and legal framework on disaster management in order to enforce and enhance proper standards.

She implored the KMC, in particular the recently restructured Municipal Disaster Management Committee and consultants in the ongoing investigations, to identify the precise cause of the incident and to draw useful lessons to ensure that such incidents do not re-occur.  She also emphasised the need for follow-up action on the recommendations made after the findings.

For his part, Gibou Jagne, Chairman of the Kanifing Municipal Council Interim Management Committee expressed appreciation to Vice President Njie-Saidy and President Yahya Jammeh for their unflinching support towards the safety and livelihood of the Gambian people.

Chairman Jagne confirmed that in the aftermath of the incident, his council set up a task force which includes NAWEC, to make follow-ups to map out concrete recommendations for urgent implementation in close consultation with government.

He also underscored the need for sensitisation of market communities on the utilisation of electrical appliances as well as other mitigation measures to prevent the occurrence of such unfortunate incidents. He then saluted all those who rendered services during the incident.