As we grapple with the widespread poverty and lack of employment, it is gratifying that something is being done to alleviate these conditions. The following article, culled from The Gambia Daily, gives more detail about the $7 million fisheries project announced early last week. The foundation stone for this project was laid in Gunjur by her execellency Mrs Isatou Njie-Saidy, the vice president.

Have a good day, Gassa.

Vice President Njie-Saidy laid foundation stone for Gunjur fisheries project

By Fatou Touray

 

The foundation stone for the largest ever fisheries project in The Gambia was on Thursday laid by the vice president Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy at Gunjur village. The project known as Gunjur fisheries project is funded by the Japanese Government at a cost of seven million US dollars and involves the construction and establishment of fish presentation and cold storage facilities and supply of fishing and related equipment and materials. The project is to be completed in nine months and it is expected to provide 12 fishing vessels, 3 refrigerating vehicles, a borehole and an improved fish smoking house for the fishing community in the area.

In her keynote address at the ground-breaking ceremony Mrs Njie-Saidy said government realises the huge potentials of the fisheries sector and its meaningful contribution. Objective of the policy is to develop and manage the fisheries sub-sector on an elaborated strategic plan for the development of the fisheries sector, among others, the strategic plan calls for the integrated development and sustainable management of artisernal fisheries sub-sector under a participatory community-based management system. The strategy involves the establishment of community fisheries centres and the provision of fisheries infrastructure, fishing related equipment, material and support to fishing and related activities.

The government of Japan Mrs Njie-Saidy noted, is a crucial and major development partner of The Gambia and continues to assist and support The Gambia government in key areas of agriculture, rural water supply, health, river transport and in the field of fisheries.

With particular reference to the fisheries sector, The Gambia and Japan continue to enjoy a cordial and mutually beneficial relationship. This meaningful relationship. she said, has spanned three decades during which the government of Japan continues to contribute to the efforts of The Gambia especially in the artisernal fisheries sub-sector.

The fish-landing site in Gunjur, Mrs Njie-Saidy continued, is the biggest in The Gambia with the largest number of fishermen, fish processors, fish traders and other economic operators within the artisernal fisheries sub-sector, the sustainable development and management of this important fish landing site will offer prospects for social and economic development especially for the fisher-folk community.

Government, she said, accords highest priority to the development of the fisheries sector on a rationally responsible and sustainable basis within the limitations of our resource base. Fish as food is an affordable animal protein for the vast majority of the Gambian households and is essential for the improvement of the nutritional standards of Gmbians.

Mrs Njie-Saidy thanked the Japanese government for funding the project and assured them of the support of the government of The Gambia's continuing support in the area of international politics. She assured beneficiaries to ensure that the project is properly managed and urged them to work closely with the fisheries department to ensure its success.

The secretary of state for fisheries Susan Waffa-Ogoo highlighted various achievements in sister projects in Bakau and Tanji noting that the Bakau project is being classified as one of the most successful artisernal fisheries development projects in Africa.

The project, she said, is now a case study for many fisheries administrators, experts and extension workers from many countries within and outside of the African continent. She therefore expressed the hope that the Gunjur project would be even more successful that previous ones and she appealed to Gambians especially the youth to embrace fishing as a profession which could guarantee livelihood.

Gracing the ceremony, the Japanese ambassador to The Gambia His Excellency Akihiko Furuya to mark his first engagement in The Gambia after presenting his letters of credentials to president Jammeh said fisheries is a key sector for socio-economic development which created job opportunities in any country.

The director of fisheries Ousman Drammeh said the project if completed will increase productivity and supply as well as reduce post harvest losses.