Gunjur Village Development Committee (VDC) Friday selected new executive members who will run the affairs of the committee for the next five years, at a ceremony held at TARUD office in Gunjur Village in Kombo South, West Coast Region.

The occasion was attended by the Alkalo of Gunjur, council of elders and a delegation from Brikama Area Council (BAC) headed by its chairman . The new executive of the committee include Demba Jobe Touray as the chairman; Lamin Jomba Bojang, secretary; Lamin Barrow, PRO; Sanna Ba Darboe as auditor; Abdou K Touray as treasurer and Omar Darboe as the social secretary.

In his welcome remarks, Alhaji Sulayman Touray, the alkalo of Gunjur thanked the BAC chairman and his delegation for making it to what he describes as an important gathering. According to him, Gunjur is a peaceful village and unity and respect is what he advocates. He hailed the outgoing VDC for their hard work, commitment and respect, manifested during their tenure in office.

For his part, Ebrima Kujabi, a councilor who is a member of BAC committee responsible for VDC issues, commended the BAC chairman for entrusting him and his committee with such a task. He noted that the selection of the executive has been professionally handled and settled without any hindrance from both parties.

He praised the outgoing VDC for their openness and willingness for change with regards to development in Gunjur. Kujabi thanked the Alkalo and council of elders for providing themthe enabling environment while urging all hands to be on deck.

The chairman of BAC, Alhaji Sunkary Badjie,described the ceremony as important in the history of Gunjur, while urging all the villages to imitate the manner in which the handing over was done. He assured the new VDC of his office’s willingness to work with them. In his words, “the relationship, cooperation and understanding that existed between my office and the outgoing VDC was excellent and I hope it continues with the new one”.

Badjie revealed that the outgoing VDC has been certificated in recognition of their invaluable support to the development in Gunjur which is approved, endorsed and signed by him. He finally thanked the gathering while urging the outgoing and incoming VDC to work hand in glove for the development of the village.

Deputising for the outgoing chairman, Modou Janneh, the outgoing secretary, commended the ward councilor, Alkalo, council of elders, head of the women groups, the chief, chairman BAC and the natives of the village for the support rendered to the outgoing VDC during their term in office.

Highlighting their achievements, Janneh said they include registering the VDC with AG chambers, opening a bank account, the new primary school identified in consultation with council of elders, which is under construction and a youth centre amongst other things.“We also supported the sports committee by giving cements for the fencing of the football field,” he revealed. 

Demba Jobe Touray, the incoming VDC chairman promised that his committee will work hard for the interest of Gunjur in collaboration with all the youth groups, community based organisations within Gunjur and the outgoing VDC. “We will work up to expectation and we hope the good relationship between Gunjur VDC and BAC will continue from strength to strength,” he assured.