The Alkalo of Nyamanarr has warned that if the authorities fail to construct the village’s main road this year, the community will not honor its rates and tax obligations to the central and local governments.
The far-flung Gambian border community of Nyamanarr has called for their fair share of the national cake after paying taxes and rates for more than 50 years without receiving much infrastructural development in return.
Located in the Upper River Region (URR) along the Gambia-Senegal border, Nyamanarr is currently struggling with accessibility issues to other destinations as the village’s main access road is now into more than five decades of neglect by the previous dispensations and the Barrow administration.
Speaking on behalf of his people during the recent visit to the community of the GRA Board and Management, the Alkalo of Nyamanarr said the governments of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, Yahya Jammeh, and President Adama Barrow have all failed the community by not providing it with a motorable road.
The community head expressed sadness that despite his village being rate and tax-compliant, the level of infrastructural development there remains relatively low.
He explained that the road links Gambia and Senegal, hence its strategic importance for both revenue generation and public transport.
The Nyamanarr Alkalo said the level of development in other URR communities is incomparable with Nyamanarr, describing it as unfair.
He pointed out that Nyamanarr has more than 100 compounds, adding that compound owners always honor their rates obligation to the local government.
He appealed to the Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. Yankuba Darboe, to spearhead efforts to ensure his village has a proper road network.
“I will not appeal to President Barrow but the Commissioner General of GRA, Yankuba Darboe, to help fix our road, which is our main challenge,” the Alkalo said before sending the strong warning that no rate and tax will be paid in Nyamanarr this year if the road infrastructure is not delivered.
Meanwhile, Nyamanarr Alkalo expressed delight in the “cordial” relationship between his community and GRA staff.
He appealed to GRA to help the staff in his community with motorbikes to effectively combat cross-border smuggling as he gave the assurance of Nyamanarr’s cooperation in the fight against smuggling.
By: Sandally Sawo. Thevoice
