Honorable Ismaila Sambou, secretary of state for Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs last Saturday presided over the official inauguration of a market project at Sanyang, Kombo South. The project was sponsored by the Brikama Area Council with an overall investment of over one million dalasis.

In his inauguration remark, Secretary Sambou said that the challenges that face the central government is to strike a workable balance between local government autonomy and central supervision. He added that the changes in local government management call for a clear understanding of development paradigms at the local level and their inter-connectedness with the central policies.

Secretary Sambou praised the community of Sanyang for their pragmatism and commitment during the construction of the facility. He used the accession to called for the proper management of the market for the sake of sustainability.

"What really counts and can have an impact on the lives of the people within Sanyang is the issue of having strong village and ward development committees," he said.

He then assured the people that the government of The Gambia, under the dynamic leadership of President Jamnmeh will not relent in its efforts to bring development to the people. Secy Sambou also called on the general public to pay their rates and taxes regularly and on time to allow Brikama Area Council to replicate such edifices in other areas.

Kunda Bojang, alkalo of the village, expressed overwhelming gratitude to the Brikama Area Council for the laudable gesture. He stated that the new market will reduce the burden on them as they used to have a market in the open and the sellers used to sit on the ground.

Sunkary Badjie, chairman of the Brikama Area Council urged the people of Sanyang to use the facility wisely. He noted that his council is conscious of the needs of its people and that all they can do is to plough back the rates and taxes that they pay in the form of markets rates,  for provision of scholarships for students, among other things.

Sheriff Janneh, chief of Kombo South district expressed hope that the market will have a positive impact on the lives of the people of Sanyang and its environs.