By Kebba Jeffang
A press statement from the Office of the President On Tuesday, June 13 said President Adama Barrow will he
holding bi-annual news conferences as part of government’s effort to put in place regular communication strategy.
The initiative came out of the agreement in the 3rd cabinet meeting since Barrow administration has taken the country on January, 19th 2017 held at the temporal office of the President in Fajara. The meeting brought together ministers and was presided over by President Barrow.
During the meeting, four areas emerged as immediate priorities of the government that they seek to address as a matter of urgency. The four priority areas include regular communication to the Gambian public, energy – especially the provision of stable electricity, infrastructure, and education.
“The Cabinet agreed on the need for the putting into place of a communications strategy that would ensure regular communication from government to the Gambian public. Minister of Information and Communications Infrastructure Demba Jawo, who was away on official business, indicated, through his colleague, Mai Ahmad Fatty, that this was a high priority for his ministry. New measures will include regular press briefings and bi-annnual news conferences by the President of The Gambia himself,” a statement signed by Amie Bojang-Sissoho, director of press and public relations at the presidency.
The statement added that the Minister of Petroleum and Energy Fafa Sanyang presented the Continental Self and Maritime Zones Bill, 2015 for discussion.
Sanyang said “the Gambia had been invited to become a signatory to the International Energy Charter.”
The minister further assured the President and his cabinet colleagues that everything was being done to ensure that the country’s electricity situation, which had become worse with increasing power outages, was being addressed with utmost urgency.
Transport, Works and Infrastructure Minister Lamin Jobe presented an update on projects under his ministry’s purview. These included the Banjul Port Expansion project, construction of the Basse-Fatoto-Kiona Road, the Basse and Fatoto Bridges project, and improvements in ferry services.
Agriculture Minister, Omar Jallow said that with the fast approaching rainy season, his ministry would give priority to timely- and weather sensitive considerations in its projects. He said The Gambia was benefiting from its participation in the 9th Annual Forum on Agriculture and the 12th International Agricultural Fair, which were both held in Morocco in April. Minister Jallow explained that the country was on track with its objective of improving and promoting agriculture and food security through water as well as sustainable agribusiness practices. Honourable Jallow also presented a bilateral agreement on agriculture with Turkey.
In the education sector, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Claudia Cole presented the Basic and Secondary Education Act 2016, which will support strategies to improve basic and secondary education in the country.
The cabinet meeting also reviewed briefs on the finalisation of the National Plan of Action, the revised 2017 national budget, the setting up of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as the Waste Management, Forestry Bill and internal security issues.
