H.E. PRESIDENT ADAMA BARROW’S INAUGURAL STATEMENT AT THE COMMISSIONING OF SEVENTY (70) BUSES
H.E. PRESIDENT ADAMA BARROW’S INAUGURAL STATEMENT AT THE COMMISSIONING OF SEVENTY (70) BUSES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT UPGRADE,
HELD ON 12TH APRIL 2022
Honourable Cabinet Ministers,
Honourable Members of the National Assembly,
Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps,
Board Chairman and General Manager, GTSC,
Managing Director, T K X-Port Ltd,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Fellow Gambians,
Today marks another milestone for my government and a significant development in the annals of road communication in The Gambia. I am singularly honoured, therefore, and greatly delighted to commission these seventy (70) brand-new buses to ease transportation around the country.
The buses have come as a continuation of the project started last year, leading to the commissioning of thirty-eight (38) buses last July. To expand public transport services, fifty-nine (59) of the new buses will be deployed for use as public transport, whilst the remaining eleven (11) will be utilised as school transport.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This development is not accidental. It is a timely strategic initiative designed to accompany the infrastructural upgrading of our national road network through improvement of the existing roads and construction of new ones, particularly in areas where the need is greatest.
With this in view, the deployment of the new buses will complement the current road transport operations of the country.
As such, I am proud to observe that this is one of the largest fleets of buses ever acquired in the history of public transport on Gambian soil. Besides easing movement, this scheme has the potential to employ more than one hundred (100) Gambians.
The quality and standard specifications of these latest buses clearly manifest my government’s resolve to permanently address the public transport challenges confronting us, which include the growing traffic congestion experienced in the Greater Banjul Area. With this in mind, any scheme geared towards improving our public transport services could not come at a better time.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is certain that for any country to improve its transport services in the 21st Century, an effective and efficient public transport system and related facilities must be in place. Our realisation of this necessity is reflected in the emphasis put in The Gambia’s National Development Plan (NDP) on the critical role of public transport services for the efficient functioning of the national economy.
Furthermore, meeting the mobility needs of our people, amid the rising national population growth rate, has been identified as a key challenge in the National Transport Policy 2018-2026.
Mindful of this, the Government will persistently devote due attention and resources to meeting the increasing demand for transport through efficiency improvements that include effective public transport services and traffic management measures.
Noting that efficiency within the transport sector cannot be achieved in the absence of the active participation of the private sector, Government deems it necessary to invite and create incentives for private sector players to partner with us to develop our road infrastructure and network to international standard. This will encourage them to participate in the transport sector and, in the process, contribute to establishing an enabling environment that promotes competition and progress within the industry. Consequently, we will continue to support GTSC in its drive to operate buses on all major and connecting roads, but we equally encourage our private partners to invest more in infrastructure to support the company.
Meanwhile, the laws will be reviewed to allow Government to play the triple roles of facilitator, regulator, and enforcer, while enabling the private sector to take on the operational responsibilities.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
To conclude, as we proudly rejoice over this landmark achievement in the road transport sub-sector, let our civic responsibilities compel us to properly use and take good care of public property.
I advise those who will be gainfully employed through this project to work diligently towards the proper upkeep of the buses. They have a modern ticketing software and other related technologies that are unique in The Gambia, for which we should feel proud.
This is an opportunity to thank the GTSC Company for tirelessly striving to provide efficient public transport services for our motherland. I also appreciate T. K. XPORT for cooperating with GTSC since the inception of this initiative. We thank you all.
I congratulate the staff of my Office, the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs on this achievement and commend them for working diligently to ensure the success of this initiative.
With immense appreciation too, I must use the occasion to solemnly thank the Late Vice President of The Gambia, Badara Joof, for championing the negotiation of this fleet of vehicles on behalf of the Government. May he continue to repose peacefully in Paradise.
Finally, I thank you all for your presence and pray that this important breakthrough in our development efforts for a better tomorrow opens up new avenues of success and prosperity for everyone.
I now declare this fleet of seventy (70) buses officially commissioned for immediate deployment.
Thank you for listening, and God bless us all.
