By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT and Sainey Sanyang
As part of Gainako’s efforts to engage local communities, our reporter visited the Village Development Committee (VDC) Chairperson to engage them and discover some of the challenges they are trying to address in the local community. Our findings have revealed that the Bijilo Nursery School and the Mariama Jammeh Clinic both need significant support to provide consistent education and medical services to the required level.
Bijilo is within Kombo North which falls under Brikama Area Council which is in turn under the West Coast Region. At the level of Parliamentary Constituencies, Bijilo is located in Sanneh Mentereng Constituency whose National Assembly member is Hon Fatou Cham. Our reporter met the VDC Chairperson Mr Ebrima Faal on Wednesday 6th August 2022.
Role of Alkalo and VDC Chairperson
Speaking to the VDC Chair, Mr Faal he explained that he is now an outgoing VDC Chairperson and would soon be replaced. He explained that the role of the Alkalo usually revolves around land allocation, documenting of land using stamps, settlement of disputes between people in the community, and collecting compound taxes which are commonly known as Lempo.
Mr Faal added that the Alkalo spearheads discussions about the community together with the VDC. However, when the Alkalo finds it difficult to address a problem or feel that a problem is beyond them they can refer to the Chief, commonly known as Seyfo.
Speaking on the role of the VDC, Mr Faal explained that their main role is to progress the development of their local community in collaboration with the Alkalo. The VDC helps to raise funds for development projects and initiatives within the community.
The VDC also helps to create opportunities to tap funds to pay teachers’ salaries and the school’s administration. The VDC also reports on the maintenance of roads and holds regular meetings with the local community, conduct frequent cleaning operations and also intervenes when natural disaster strikes.
One of the challenges they are currently facing is the smooth operation of a nursery school and a clinic in Bijilo. In the past they were supported by other organisations, however, of late the VDC has had to step in to ensure they stay open.
When asked if they are open to engaging the public a contact person was provided for the VDC Chairperson Ebrima Faal +2209913254. He is also available via WhatsApp.
Mariama Jammeh Clinic and Nursery School
Speaking to the VDC Chairperson Mr Ebrima Faal he told Gainako Online News that the clinic in Bijilo named “Mariama Jammeh” is suffering from a shortage of staff and medicine which he claims is due to the lack of sufficient funding to sustain the clinic. The clinic is named after the daughter of former President Yahya Jammeh.
Chairperson Faal explained that the medical facility is a self-sponsored clinic financed by the natives of Bijilo. He called for the entire community and the government to support them in increasing the human and material resources needed for the clinic.
Just opposite the clinic is the Bijilo Nursery School. According to the VDC Chairperson, the Christian Child Fund (CCF) used to sponsor the school in the past. However, the support to run the school has now dried up forcing the VDC to pay for the teacher’s fees.
He explained that there was an attempt to solicit a token payment for school fees, however, this has not been generating sufficient income because many of the parents haven’t been able to pay.
To plug the funding gap, VDC Chairperson Ebrima Faal explained that they have resulted in raising funds through businesses, and trade and render it to pay teachers but recently the VDC is facing tough times to pay teachers and are calling for support from the government and philanthropists.