By Edrissa Jallow
National Assembly Member (NAM) for Bundung Ka Kunda, Hon Sulayman Jammeh, has expressed concerns over the current Bundung road construction, noting that the condition of the road still remains incomplete and affects residents and businesses in Bundung. Hon Jammeh is one of two NAMs who made the progression from Councillor to Parliament in the April 2022 Parliamentary Elections.
Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter first published an interview with Hon Jammeh on the state of Bundung Road on 25th September 2022 where he conducted a tour with journalists. There was significant media attention on the state of Bundung Road soon after this the Bundung road project commence on Friday 21st October 2022. However, ever since Contractors came to dig trenches to commence construction work has halted impeding access to compounds and creating a dangerous environment.
Interview of Hon Sulayman Jammeh back in September 2022
In a recent follow-up interview with our reporter, Hon Jammeh disclosed that the project is not progressing as only gutters were dug and have been left uncovered since about a month ago. According to Hon Jammeh, he agreed with the contractor to first dig gutters on both sides of the road. However, only one side was dug while the other side is claimed to have NAWEC main water pipe which was left undug still.
“When they [contractors] dig it after two days, they just leave and go,” said Hon Jammeh.
Asked about the reason why workers left, Hon Jammeh opined that contractor probably secured another project which “they went to prioritize”.
In this regard, the NAM for Bundung Ka Kunda expressed disappointment at the contractor’s abandonment of the road construction which is “seriously” affecting the resident of Bundung as gutters are dug in front of people’s compounds and making it difficult to access their homes and shops.
“Right now they [Contractors] went and we don’t even know what is happening and people need to access their homes, we have people who are disabled, we have children there and in fact the way they dig it is not safe for those people [disable and children]” Hon Jammeh explained.
Turning his attention to the Authorities, Hon Jammeh recommended to those in charge of the project, most particularly the Ministry of Works, Communications and Infrastructure (MoWCI) and the National Roads Authority (NRA), to consider the well-being and the safety of the citizens in Bundung.
He also challenged the authorities not to turn a blind eye to the poor implementation of projects under their portfolio. He reasoned that Authorities should not “give a project to people and just leave them to do anything they want to do”.
“Definitely, the project is not progressing because in a sense when you start a project you have to continue, but you cannot start a project. You stop it and go to another project;” said Hon Jammeh. “Business around the area is affected, and the movement of the people still is a challenge most of the vehicles are not plying Bundung highway because of the current situation of the road is bad”.
He appealed to the authorities to at least smoothen the road so vehicles can be accessible and daily business could progress.
Road Tour of Bundung Road in September 2022
