By: Kemo Kanyi
Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda has addressed questions from the Local Government Commission of Inquiry regarding a D105-million-contract awarded to Espace Motors for the purchase of 19 trucks in 2019, which was not reflected in the approved budget for that year.
The commission’s chairperson, Jainaba Bah, raised concerns over the absence of the project in the 2019 budget. She questioned whether the expenditure and subsequent loan repayments had negatively impacted other projects implemented by the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC).
In response, Mayor Bensouda explained that the payment was spread over a period of three years in 36 monthly installments.
Chairperson Bah further pointed out that the 2019 budget did not reflect any revenue streams earmarked for the purchase or servicing of the vehicles, reiterating that the expenditure was not captured in the budget.
Mayor Bensouda explained that the budget had already been submitted by the statutory deadline of September 30, and at the time, the truck procurement project was not yet conceived.
“When the budget was submitted, we were still considering the purchase of waste management equipment. Since the project wasn’t finalized at that point, the budget line could only be adjusted in terms of description later,” he said.
When asked if there was documentation to support this budget line, Bensouda said that the matter should be verified with the Finance Committee.
“I believe the amount paid was within the cost framework. What needed to be amended was the description,” he added.
The commission has asked Mayor Bensouda to provide supporting evidence for its review.