By Yunus S Saliu
If everything goes according to plan, the people of Juffureh and Albreda villages will start experiencing changing in their communities as road construction, one among tourism develop projects that are in offing for the residents will begin in the next thirty days.
The Minister of Tourism and Culture Tuesday, 4th February disclosed that without further delay “in the next thirty days construction of the road that leads to the villages will start.”
Minister Hamat NK Bah who is currently on tourism facilities tour across the country disclosed during an interview with members of travel and tour writers and assured that the money/fund for the construction of the road is “available” noting that authorities are just finalizing arrangement for the road construction to start.
Juffureh and Albreda is classified as TDA4 in The Gambia Tourism Development Master Plan of 2006, Juffureh and Albreda villages are one of the key places in the country’s cultural historical sites, it is the birthplace of the renowned Kunta Kinteh and also a place he was captured and moved to Kunta Kinteh Island (formerly known as James Island).
He noted that since his inception in office in 2017 to date that his ministry has revamped completely and reorganized the National Centre for Arts and Culture and “it has grown between 200 to 300 per cent since we took over.”
He added further that the centre has changed direction while the dividends are obvious as thousands of Gambians whom today are feeling happy through extreme performance of Gambian artists. “Gambian artists too are a bit happy too which is one of the reasons that you can see that the independent stadium is always fill up all the time when Gambian stars are playing,” he noted.
However, the Minister on his Day two tour had a lengthy meeting with the residents of the Juffureh and Albreda villages as they divulged all that are in corner of their heart bothering them as residents and custodian of historical communities.
Among the issues and requests is good road, electricity, hotels, good welfare for the residents, and among other developments.
The Minister accompanied by the Permanent and Deputy Permanent Secretaries of MoTC, Director Generals of institutions under his purview – Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard), Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI), National Centre for Arts and Culture, Tourism Security Unit, governor of North Bank Region, selected National Assembly Members for Tourism and Culture, Chairmen Board of Directors of GTHI, GTBoard, officials from the three institutions and members of the Press among others assured them of more development as tourism is now expanding beyond the Greater Banjul Area but now to the rural areas.
He however encouraged them to come forward and take ownership of what belong to them instead of giving directive or dictating of what people should do.
Meanwhile, on his first day of the tour, Minister Hamat NK Bah led by the Governor of North Bank Region, Ebrima K Dampha to visit the Chief of Lower Niumi Fabakary Nana Sonko was later on a conducted tour of various upcountry facilities which included Fort Bullen, Barra; Juffureh Revamp Project in Juffureh/Albreda villages; Morgan Camp, Chamen Agricultural Training and Seed Multiplication Center; Kauren River Camp Eddie Mote; all in North Bank Region as the tour proceed today.
