By Yunus S. Saliu
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Abdoulie Jobe, on Monday inspected the Bijilo Tourist Taxi Park near the Coco Ocean Hotel following public complaints over poor sanitation and general conditions at the site.
The visit, undertaken with the Director General of the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) and other senior officials, focused on assessing hygiene, safety and organisation within the Tourist Development Area (TDA), particularly at the taxi park.
Addressing drivers after the inspection, Minister Jobe said the visit was not intended to remove the taxi park but to identify ways of improving its condition as part of the country’s tourism product.
“I have received complaints about this car park, and it is important for the GTBoard to work with users of the space to make it more organised and conducive,” he said, stressing that the area must project a positive image of The Gambia as a tourist destination.
The minister expressed concern over sanitation, including the condition of a nearby toilet facility, and called for better organisation and inclusion of the area under GTBoard’s management responsibilities.
Responding, the secretary of the Bijilo Tourist Taxi Park, Modou Faal, appealed for basic facilities, especially a restroom. He said drivers had written to the GTBoard two weeks earlier requesting a toilet, noting that the lack of facilities posed daily challenges. He also called for sand-filling of the area to prevent vehicles from getting stuck during the rainy season.
Another driver and committee member, Yousupha Cham, raised concerns over security, particularly at night, and called for street lighting and better coordination with nearby hotels. He said poor lighting made the area unsafe for both drivers and tourists.
Cham added that drivers at the park comply with GTBoard regulations, noting that vehicles are kept clean, controllers wear uniforms and only drivers with valid GTBoard identification are allowed to operate.
On waste management, Faal said drivers organise monthly communal cleaning exercises, known locally as set-settal, due to the accumulation of fallen leaves in the area.
Minister Jobe reminded the drivers that maintaining cleanliness is a shared responsibility, stressing that a clean environment enhances tourist confidence. He assured them they would not be displaced, acknowledging their role in providing essential transport services to visitors.
The minister concluded by assuring the drivers that their concerns had been noted and that efforts would be made, in collaboration with the GTBoard, to address issues relating to sanitation, lighting and the general improvement of the area.
