Here is the third part of SOS Famara Jatta's budget speech.
Have a good day, Gassa.
i. Health and Population
Mr. Speaker,
Significant achievements have been made in the health sector, notably the
basic health indicators, reduction in the levels of malnutrition and an
increase in the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding.
The thrust of health interventions still revolves around three areas, viz:
Family Health, Disease Control, and Health Promotion and Protection. Other
health services will focus on conducting reviews and studies to determine
adolescent and youth health needs, as well as to establish current status of
maternal mortality, infant mortality and contraceptive prevalence. One major
factor in the comprehensive review of the MCH/FP Programme is to prepare for
a shift into a National Reproductive Health Programme. A Reproductive Health
Policy has just been formulated and this will be followed by the development
of a national Health Plan of Action.
The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has also been reviewed during
the year 2001. Significant achievements registered include a high coverage
for individuals, high awareness among the population and high access to
immunization services. In spite of the relative high coverage, there has
been a decline in the number of fully immunized children. This decline has
been attributed to the intermittent shortage of certain vaccines. To
alleviate this, the budgetary allocation for the procurement of vaccines has
been increased considerably using HIPC funds.
On disease control, the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI)
is one of the new strategies the Department of State for Health has
initiated. IMCI is a cost-effective strategy, which the country has decided
to implement starting with two health divisions, namely the North Bank
Division and Lower River Division. IMCI will contribute significantly to the
reduction of infant and child mortality. Regarding the Roll-Back-Malaria
Initiative, Government is providing 20,000 Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs)
to be distributed to health facilities and communities in the Upper River
and Central River Divisions.
Mr. Speaker, Sir,
I would like, at this point to remind the nation of the presence of the
monster HIV/AIDS in our midst. Despite the seemingly low prevalence rates of
1.2% for HIV1 and 0.9% for HIV2, we cannot afford to be complacent. It is a
medical problem that has a social root and impacts most severely on the
economy. HIV/AIDS exists; it kills, creates orphans and makes us poor.
However, the good news is that it can be prevented, its victims cared for
and the rate of transmission brought down significantly. With this
objective, the government will, through the HIV/AIDS Rapid Response Project
endeavour to intensify its campaign for prevention and care, adopting a
multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional approach to fight against the pandemic.
On Social Welfare, government has constructed a Home for the Elderly to
accommodate up to 14 elderly persons. In addition, a policy for the elderly
is currently being formulated with support from the World Health
Organization.
As per the 1993 Census, the Gambia’s population stood at 1.2 million with a
high growth rate of 4.2% per annum of which immigration constitutes 1.7%.
However, Government is concerned about this high population growth rate as
it poses a threat to existing social amenities. Preparations are under way
for the 2003 Census and funding is being sought from donors and the private
sector.
ii. Housing
Mr Speaker,
With the aspiration of attaining the National Policy objective of making
land distribution equitably accessible to all persons without disturbing the
fauna and flora, we have recently demarcated and allocated the ‘NEMASU’
Layout consisting of 537 residential plots. We are also in the process of
allocating three other Layouts namely, Bijilo residential layout with 124
plots, Brufut with 548 plots, and Tanji with 535 plots. An additional fourth
layout is being prepared in Mariama Kunda in Kombo North for lower grade
civil servants including Messengers, Drivers, Labourers and Watchmen. A
total of 500 plots will be created.
Following the successful allocation of of 1006 plots of the Brusubi Housing
Project Phase 1, and the continuing demand for shelter, the Social Security
and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) is now embarking on Brusubi Housing
Project Phase 2. In Phase 2, 841 serviced plots will be allocated such that
each income category gets a specific number of plots.
All these are geared towards upholding and realising the noble objective of
providing adequate housing for all citizens, in line with the Plan of Action
of the Strategy for Poverty Alleviation II.
Government is however shifting from being a provider to an enabler of
shelter by encouraging private sector involvement in housing delivery.
Recently, two sites have been identified for a private sector developer (TAF
HOLDING), Old Yundum and Brufut, and construction work has already started
at the old Yundum Site.
iii. Education and Human Resource Development
Mr Speaker, Sir,
The Government of the Gambia is committed to the provision of 9 years of
uninterrupted basic education to all. The academic year 2000/01 has seen a
tremendous expansion of Upper Basic Schools, 19 Upper Basic Schools (UBS)
were opened in Regions 1,3,4,5 and 6, representing an increment of 22% from
the previous year. This has increased the number of places in UBS, thereby
increasing access to the middle schools and the transition rate from Lower
to Upper Basic level. Three Senior Secondary Schools have also been opened
in Regions 1 and 2.
Overall, 273 classrooms have been completed and 402 more are committed for
2001. Following a study that was carried out to assess the required
classroom renovation, the ADB will be funding the maintenance initiative in
schools and construction of staff quarters for teachers in remote areas.
An operational manual has been completed for the Scholarship Trust Fund.
Presently, more than 1800 girls in Upper Basic and Secondary Schools are
sponsored in CRD and URD for 2000/01, totalling about D1.7m. The scheme is
expected to cover other divisions in due course, all in a bid to increase
the retention rate. We are also launching a school-feeding programme to
improve on the quality and retention in our schools: 243 Schools are
benefiting from the Program and a total of 58,573 children of whom 25,641
are girls. With the new school-feeding Program, the number of beneficiary
students is expected to more than double. This will also strengthen the
nutritional status of the children.
In line with the government’s policy of creating more self-employment
opportunities for young Gambians, a Vocational Technical Education Policy
document is being developed. A draft Policy of the National Training
Authority Act has been submitted to cabinet and will be forwarded to the
National Assembly for approval.
Part of the new Directorate of Science and Technology Education's mandate is
the introduction and the promotion of computer education in Secondary
Schools throughout the country. It is also mandated to come up with an
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy that will address
various aspects of computer use in our educational institutions.
By the beginning of next academic year, most Senior Secondary Schools
throughout the country will each receive between 75 Computers and
Accessories. This is in addition to 220 computers donated by World Links for
Development. Work on construction and rehabilitation of computer labs in
these schools will soon commence.
Mr Speaker,
As part of the drive to increase access to university education at home,
three more faculties were established for the 2000/01 academic year, making
a total of four faculties namely: Humanities & the Social Sciences, Science
& Agriculture, Economics & Management Science, and Medicine & Allied
Sciences. Currently, over 400 students are enrolled on these faculties.
Arrangements are underway to enrol the next batch of students as the
University moves into the second year.
In the linking up process of the two parallel school systems, twenty
qualified English Language Teachers have been posted in the Madrassas that
have met the criteria set by DOSE. The mainstreaming of children with mild
to moderate disability into the normal school system is also in progress.
Ten students in Lower Basic Schools, 7 in Upper basic Schools, 3 in Senior
Secondary Schools and 4 in Vocational Training Institutions have already
been mainstreamed.
There is also the need to raise the number of qualified teachers for our
expanding school system. Thus Gambia College has more than doubled its
student intake into the pre-service teacher education courses from 120 in
1997 to over 300 per year. As a result of the delays incurred at the
beginning of the program, student intake for pre-service training courses
were revised to meet planned targets.
iv. Youth, Sport and Women Development
Mr Speaker,
Poverty and unemployment generally, and particularly in the case of Youths,
do not augur well for society. Subsequently, the mandate of the National
Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) is being expanded to incorporate apprenticeship
training and market relevant skills development for more young men and women
in the economy, in a continuous effort to assist youths individually towards
self-development and collectively for national development.
In the domain of sports, the construction works on the Basse, Soma and
Farafenni multi-purpose Youth and Sports Centres are well advanced. Plans
are also underway to extend sporting facilities to District and municipal
levels, and to set up a Sports Development Fund, to be financed through the
Tobacco Advert Levy and from other sources.
Mr. Speaker,
Women constitute about 51% of our population and dominate the labour force.
They work the longest hours and also produce most of what we can boast of.
They however, constitute the greater proportion of the poor. Government has
realised that in women, lay a portent force against poverty, hence our
effort at mainstreaming women issues into all development programmes and
projects. The first National Policy for the Advancement of Gambian Women was
launched in March 2001 and with the kind intervention of DFID, some of these
issues are being addressed by the Mainstreaming Poverty and Gender project.
As a result, we have phase the Scholarship Trust Fund for Girls into NBD and
LRD in addition to URD and CRD to increase the number of educated girls. We
are also restructuring the Women’s Bureau to effectively implement the
National Policy for the Advancement of Gambian Women, and better respond to
the needs of our women folk.
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BUDGET SPEECH 2002
PROGRAMME BASED BUDGETING FOR EFFICIENT RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND USE WITH A
POVERTY REDUCTION DIMENSION
VII. POVERTY REDUCTION THROUGH INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY
i. Agriculture
Mr Speaker, Sir,
In general, the major programmes in the Agricultural sector have performed
favourably leading to great improvement in the output of the sector. The
ADB, IFAD and Gambia Government funded Lowland Agricultural Development
Programme (LADEP), continues to contribute significantly to increased rice
production and household food security, which is very much in line with its
primary objectives. So far, 1,745 hectares of swampland have been reclaimed
since April 1997, representing 101% of the cumulative target for the first
four years and 52% of the targets for the whole 8-year programme. Overall,
10,100 households have benefited from the project, through access causeways
and bridges as well as construction of dykes.
The ADB and Gambia Government-funded Peri-Urban Smallholder Improvement
Project (PSIP), with total project cost of US$7 Million for five years, was
launched this year. The project is expected to boost, on a sustainable
basis, the production of horticultural and livestock products by
smallholders in the Western and North Bank Divisions. The European Union has
already approved the funding of the Pan African Programme for the Control of
Epizootic (PACE) to the tune of D7.8 million. The overall objective of PACE
is to enhance national capacities to control epizootic diseases, that affect
livestock and thereby help in alleviating poverty among those involved in
livestock farming.
Government is supporting an Integrated Maize and Poultry Project with the
aim of enhancing food security and rural incomes. Through the project, we
provide inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and agro-chemicals to producer
associations for maize production to be used as poultry feed. The producer
groups have been assisted with materials to construct poultry houses (for
both broilers and layers), and to purchase day-old chicks. The first batches
of broilers have already been marketed, thus providing additional incomes to
the mainly female farmers.
The Telefood Micro-Projects, which increased from 12 in 2000 to 16
micro-projects in 2001, focused mainly in the areas of horticultural
production, commercial poultry and rabbit raising, fisheries, agro-forestry
and bee-keeping. These interventions from the FAO also cover the
implementation of Emergency Assistance to facilitate a rapid response
against the outbreak of the African Swine Fever and other emerging diseases.
Other projects currently being implemented include support to the
continuation of the Special Programme for Food Security (SPPS), funded by
the Gambia Government and FAO with South/South cooperation from Bangladesh;
the implementation of the Agricultural Census Project 2001 with funding
contributions from UNDP, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Action Aid The
Gambia (AATG). The Agricultural Rural Farmer Training Centre at Jenoi,
supported by South/South cooperation from the Indonesian Government,
continue to train mainly women participants from the sub-region in rice
production throughout the year.
Mr Speaker,
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), maintained efforts to
improve its institutional and research management capacity through the
strategic planning process and agricultural research. Regional and
international research collaboration as well as extension-farmer linkages
were strengthened, whilst measures to obtain sustainable financing
mechanisms for The Gambia’s agricultural research are also being explored.
And it could be said that, the overall increases in crop hectare and
production, can be partially attributed to concerted efforts of the research
and extension service delivery systems of the Department of State for
Agriculture.
Subsequent to the liquidation of The Gambia Cooperative Union in 1998, there
have been efforts to revitalise the Groundnut industry. In the process, all
the stakeholders in the sub-sector including the European Union (EU) have
committed themselves to genuinely support the revitalisation and
re-organisation of the primary cooperative organisations (CPMSs), into
viable business entities. 94 cooperative societies are currently in
operation to facilitate groundnut production and marketing and for the
extension of credit facilities to producers. The Agri-business Service Plan
Association (ASPA), consisting of producer organisations, donors and
industrialists, participated actively in determining the nominal producer
price of groundnuts with Government providing the enabling environment.
Difficulties continue to be experienced in groundnut marketing during the
past year resulting in credit buying for the first part of the trade season.
However, succinct strategic plans are set afoot to redress the problem.
Regardless of these achievements, the sector continued to be marred by a
series of constraints resulting in low production and productivity. Hence in
tandem with the revitalisation programme for agriculture, substantial public
and private investments are being sought to redress the key priority areas
of the sector. In addition, Government continues to empower farmers through
the provision of some micro-finance, essential inputs and farm machinery.
The 39 tractors distributed among farmer groups throughout the country which
undoubtedly boosted production and alleviated labour and time constraints,
was an effort in this direction.
ii. Tourism and Cultural Issues
Mr Speaker, Sir,
One of our key industries, tourism, has in the past two years undergone some
difficulties in two of our source markets (Germany and Holland). The effect
of these was an 18% drop in tourist arrivals for the Year 2000. In response
to this, we embarked on a special programme aimed at expanding our market
both in terms of source and reach. As a result, we have witnessed a further
consolidation in our biggest source market, the United Kingdom as two new
tour operators, Unijet and Panorama, launched programmes in The Gambia
during 2001. Gambia Experience has thereby significantly increased its
operation from two to three flights a week in the winter. We are also
witnessing a welcome recovery in the Dutch market with the return of
Olympia, which has now expanded its operation to include parts of Germany
and Belgium.
There are now positive indications that the tourism sector is heading for a
turnaround as winter tourist traffic increases. We now receive 13 charter
flights a week compared to 10 last winter. Provisional estimates show that
for the year just ended, we received a total of 75,650 air charter tourists
representing a drop of only 4% from year 2000. Projections are that the
number of air charter arrivals would increase by more than 20% for the Year
2002.
To guarantee this projected increase, not much is left to chance. We are
working closely with the members of the travel trade to vigorously promote
our tourism product in all markets. Emphasis will also be placed on
promoting summer tourism, which has commenced with the extension of a set of
incentives to the travel trade including a 25% discount on aircraft landing
fees for all charters during the summer months of May to October.
There is also a need to upgrade our product. In this pursuit, Government has
now set up the Gambia Tourism Authority with significant private sector
representation on both its Board of Directors and its Advisory Committees,
and there are plans in the coming year to institute a Hotel Classification
and Grading System. We extend our gratitude to the European Union for their
assistance in funding the preparation of the feasibility study on the Gambia
Tourism Authority and the Hotel Classification Guidelines.
Mr Speaker,
As part of the efforts to improve our product, the Government has recently
launched a project to light up the Tourism Development Area with a D4.5
million electrification project, jointly funded by the Government, the
Gambia Hotel Association and GAMWORKS. Government is also conducting a
comprehensive review of the tourism sector jointly funded with the ADB to
the tune of D14 million to develop a Tourism Master Plan. This master plan
will guide the formulation and adoption of appropriate policies and
procedures for the sustained development of the sector.
An important part of the Plan would cover the development and marketing of
eco-tourism facilities, and the training needs in the tourism sector. In
this regard, the Department of State for Tourism and Culture is studying the
modalities of upgrading the Gambia Hotel School into a higher-level training
institution, with an expanded curriculum covering various aspects of the
sector.
Recently, a six-week training and re-orientation programme for a batch of 60
beach boys or bumpsters was conducted. The programme, which was conducted in
collaboration with the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS), was intended to
turn these youngsters into professional tourist guides for their own benefit
and that of the industry. A group of women batik producers and sellers have
also been undergoing training with a view to developing their
entrepreneurial skills and enhancing the quality of their products. This
programme is being organised under the Fight Against Social and Economic
Exclusion (FASE) Project of the UNDP.
Mr Speaker,
Regarding the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), the World Bank
financed project launched in March 1999 has gone through its first phase,
which entailed the review of the policy, legal and fiscal framework of the
NCAC in particular and the cultural sector in general. The second phase of
the project, comprises the formulation of a cost-based 10-year strategic
plan for the NCAC and the cultural sector as well as a comprehensive
training programme for the institution. An in-house training programme
covering various disciplines is also underway. It should be completed by the
end of May 2002.
The NCAC is now charged with the operation and upkeep of Arch 22, which
Government has proclaimed a national monument and transferred to the Council
at the start of the fiscal year 2001.
iii. Trade and Industrial Development
Mr Speaker,
During the course of the year, government signed a number of Trade
Cooperation Agreements and Reciprocal Protection of Investment Agreements.
Among these are agreements signed with the Islamic Republic of Mauritania,
Ukraine and the Netherlands. New Agreements are also being negotiated with
the Republic of Guinea and Romania. Such agreements are intended to
facilitate trade and stimulate private sector growth and development.
In the area of trade promotion and development, a Competition Policy and Law
is being finalized with the assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat. This
is geared towards the protection of consumers and businesses by ensuring a
level playing field for all, thereby encouraging new investments and
ensuring consumer confidence in the market. In pursuance of the goal of
promoting exports and developing easily accessible trade-related
information, the DOSTIE in collaboration with UNCTAD, is working towards the
establishment of a trade point for the Gambia. Similar ones created
elsewhere in Africa have proved very successful in linking local producers
with market leads.
A significant development has been made this year in Government’s efforts
towards creating a genuine enabling environment for increased private sector
participation. The enactment of The Gambia Investment Promotion Act and the
Free Zones Act paved the way in May this year for the setting up of GIPFZA,
the apex body that will provide one-stop-shop services to investors and
coordinate all aspects of investment in both the customs territory and free
zones.
The above developments fall within the priority objectives identified within
the Trade Gateway Project. An Engineering Design works for this project has
been completed and construction works are expected to commence in 2002. The
project is expected to attract significant investment into the country and
create over 5000 new jobs for Gambians in the first phase. The first phase
of the Project will be located at the Banjul International Airport area.
A new Industrial Policy is also being developed to facilitate the
much-needed industrialization that would accelerate economic growth and
development. The overall aim of the policy is to ensure an adequate response
to investment markets, employment creation and poverty alleviation in all
sectors that have industrial potential. In addition, government, in its
attempt to boost the manufacturing sector, which contributes less than 6% of
GDP, has approved the exemption of duty and sales tax for all inputs and raw
materials, directly used in the manufacturing sector, once a mechanism for
monitoring the tax waiver is in place.
Mr Speaker,
The Government, taking cognisance of the role of the Small and Medium
Enterprise (SME) sector in the economy, has decided to put in place a more
conducive environment to enhance the development of the sector. In this
light, the preparation of an SME policy is underway with the assistance of
the UNDP. A National Technical Committee has been set up to provide advisory
services to government on SME development. The Indigenous Business Advisory
Service (IBAS) will also be restructured and better equipped to provide more
efficient services to its clientele.
Regarding mineral exploration, the Australian company, Carnegie Corporation
that was granted exclusive prospecting license in 1999 carried out
reconnaissance survey of the three main deposits at Batokunku, Sanyang and
Kartong. Representative samples collected from these sites have been
analysed in Australia and presently, the corporation is carrying out a
survey to test their marketability and establish product credential in
international markets.
A draft revised Mining and Quarries Bill; currently being studied by all
stakeholders prior to finalisation is intended to bring our mining
legislation in conformity with international mining laws to encourage
research, mining investment and rational use of our subsoil resources.
The petroleum exploration programme of The Gambia has registered significant
progress. During the course of the year, a further 1000km of 2D Seismic has
been acquired in the offshore area. New types of petroleum prospects have
also been identified in the ultra deep offshore area. The drilling of these
prospects is currently being negotiated with oil companies.
An Oil and Gas Conference was also successfully organized in February 2001.
The conference brought together national decision-makers in the petroleum
industry and oil companies operating in the sub-region. One of the major
recommendations of the conference is the decision to carry out further
studies to update the geological and seismic data on the Mauritania,
Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry (MSGBC) Basins
Following last year's divisional consultations for the preparation of an
employment policy, government is now reviewing the recently formulated
National Employment Policy and Action Plan.
vi. Fisheries
Mr Speaker,
The Gambia Government is sparing no effort to ensure that the potentials of
the fisheries sub-sector are fully exploited to contribute significantly to
the socio-economic development of the country. To this end, the Ice Plant
and Cold-room facilities at the Tanji Project for the Improvement of Fishing
and Preservation Facilities For Inland Fish Distribution are now fully in
operation.
The Government of Japan, having agreed to consider The Gambia’s request for
the provision of facilities for an ice plant, cold-room, fishing materials
and store and refrigerated trucks for one of the country’s largest fishing
centres at Gunjur, has in June 2001 dispatched a project team to the Gambia
to discuss the design of the project. The team has produced a draft proposal
document for review, which hopefully will be finalised, approved and
implemented during 2002.
The financing arrangements for the Gambia Fisheries Development Project to
be jointly funded by the Gambia Government, ADB and BADEA to the tune of
US$13.47 million have also been finalized and the National Project Steering
Committee set up. The Project is now set to take off in early 2002. This
project has a countrywide coverage as reported last year, and will establish
a central fish Market within the Kanifing Municipality, improve existing
inland community fisheries centres and create a cold chain for the
preservation and marketing of marine product throughout the country.
Construction work on the Banjul Ice Plant Project sponsored by The Republic
of China on Taiwan to the tune of US$300,000 is at an advanced stage. This
project consists of an Ice Plant, cold-room facilities and refrigerated
trucks to improve the preservation and marketing of fish and fishery
products for Banjul fisheries operators.
The interventions of these projects will complement the efforts of
Government in the fight to enhance food security, through an efficient fish
supply system for improved nutrition of the population, and to alleviate
poverty by creating opportunities for employment and income generation. To
attain these objectives however, it is essential that the Gambian people,
particularly the direct project beneficiaries and the youths rise up to the
challenges.
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