The leader of the opposition National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM), a nominated councillor of the Brikama Area Council (BAC), has disclosed that his council has registered with tangible improvements in both the revenue collection and social service delivery.

Lamin Waa Juwara made these remarks in an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer at his Brikama residence. Juwara also acknowledged the commitment of the councillors to dealing with the welfare of the people. However, he stressed that there should be no room for complacency in managing public affairs.

Mr Juwara outlined that the performances of the current administration headed by Sunkari Badjie, chairman of BAC and the councillor for Somita Ward are incomparable to the previous councils in the history of BAC. According to him, the BAC chief executive officer, Momodou Jallow and his team of councillors are preparing to operate more transparently.

He recalled that in November, 2007, when the interim management committee led by governor Abdou FM Badjie was appointed, they found out that the council cannot not even pay its staff salaries, despite the rates and taxes collected by 50 collectors and an additional 35 commission collectors. Juwara, who was also a member of the interim committee, recalled that the 35 commission collectors were terminated because they were serving as "disincentives" for the involvement of the chiefs and Alkalolu in the collection of rates and taxes. "Today, rates and tax collection are being vigorously pursued and the council's revenue base is getting healthier day by day," he confirmed.

He further underscored that the other impressive performance of the council is the regularisation of its staff appointments, which was preceded by a staff audit by the Personnel Management Office. He said the exercise was carried out because the current administration felt that there were excess 'baggages' and lot of irregularities in appointments. "There were a lot of mess in the operation of the Brikama Market also, which are now being put under control", he asserted, adding that positive moves have been taken, which will usher the proper operation.

The plain-speaking veteran politician went on to further add that the council's recent involvement in the Welingara Market Project in which BAC had pumped in over D560, 000. "This was possible because the sensitisation of the people on the importance of rates and tax payment was a continuous process at the council," he noted.

According to Juwara, BAC is currently having a budget that could meet the needs of the people. However, he observed that the council is currently facing some constraints, as there are areas where the council in its capacity cannot deliver the services as efficiently as intended. He noted that such are the areas of electricity supply, which is extremely expensive.

Mr Juwara further mentioned that the royalty payment from the sand mining has also ceased due to the public controversies surrounding the management of the sand industry. He stressed that these are important resources of the Gambian people that need to be effectively managed.

"If BAC could not manage them, it would be prudent to allocate them to a sector that can get the better of it. But of course, BAC can ensure appropriate management of these resources," he noted.

Juwara then assured the rate and tax payers that the new estimates of the council will cover the maintenance of roads, as well as the education sector through the provision of scholarships the most needy students.