By Landing Ceesay
Brikama Area Council (BAC) earlier Friday presented to Brufut and Brikama Nema, cheques amounting to D1, 950, 000 for community development initiatives.
Brufut received a cheque of D1.5 million for the construction of a new market; while Brikama Nema received D450, 000 for a street light project.
The Brufut market project is a joint venture between BAC and a Netherlands based organization (Deutch Association); and the project would be implemented by a Brufut based youth organization called “Community Action Support Association” (CASA-Gambia).
“Once again we are excited to gather here this morning to present cheques in the sum of GMD 1, 950,000 (D1, 500 000 and D450, 000) towards the implementation of two important demand driven projects in Brufut and Brikama Nema Kabilo, respectively.
“Our counterpart contribution for the Brufut market amounts to the sum of GMD 2 million, which represents 27% of the project cost; while the remaining part of the funds will be covered by other external partners. The construction of a standard market in Brufut which is one of the fastest growing communities in the region, is indeed timely and important in different aspects,” Modou Jonga, CEO, Brikama Area Council said shortly after handing over the cheques to the beneficiaries.
He said the D450 cheque for the Brikama Nema Kabilo is part of the council’s final counterpart contribution to the street light component of the Nema revitalisation project.
Mr. Jonga commended the Community Action Support Association (CASA-Gambia) for engaging and mobilizing stakeholders both in The Gambia and abroad for the reconstruction of the Brufut Central Market.
Ebrima Jatta, Chairman, CASA-Gambia expressed delight for the trust and confidence bestowed in his team to construct a market for the people of Brufut.
“This idea emanated from a protest by a group of young people who called themselves ‘Occupy Brikama Area Council’ when they circulated a video showing the state of the Brufut market which was so terrible. The sons and daughters of Brufut saw it (video) and took upon themselves do something about it. We did and advertisement about it and it was advertised on a Deutche TV in the Netherlands.
“The Deutch Association then contacted us to partner with them in which they will contribute 63% of the project. So we contacted Brikama Area for support and they agreed to contribute 27% of the project, which is GMD 2 million,” Mr. Jatta said.
Meanwhile, the Alkalo of Brufut and a women representative of Brufut Market thanked the council for their support.
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