Ebrima Cham, director general of The Gambia Agency for the Management of Public Works (GAMWORKS), has disclosed that 2007 has been a record year for his agency in terms of performance .

Speaking at the GAMWORKS fourth annual general meeting held at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi, yesterday, Mr Cham said during the year under review, GAMWORKS had undertaken a lot of development projects.

According to Director General Cham, two new projects were entrusted to the agency by the government. He added that five new Delegated Management Contracts were signed with development partners; 300 classrooms and 2 new senior secondary schools were also built. A staff quarters was constructed to provide accommodation for 249 teachers in the provinces and 9447 pieces of furniture were supplied to schools. Mr Cham further disclosed that 35 water points have been sunk.

The funds which total D182 million were received from the government of The Gambia and their development partners. Mr Cham continued that a total of D165 million was disbursed to their consultants and contractors. D2.6 million was also collected by the agency and paid in taxes to the coffers of The Gambia government.

On the review of his agency's operation, Mr Cham said, at the beginning of 2007, GAMWORKS celebrated the successful completion and closure of two major projects; the World Bank/Gambia Government funded Poverty Alleviation and Capacity Building Project (PACABP) and the second public works project which was financed by The Gambia government with assistance of the OPEC Fund for International Development.

"This was followed later in the year by the beginning of two new projects, the third public works project and the reconstruction of the Westfield- Sukuta Road project," he revealed.

Mr.Cham finally commended his staff, board of directors, partners and above all, the Gambian leader Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, for his continued support towards the development of his agency.