Before 1994, whenever the name, Banjul, was mentioned it hardly had to do with anything other than the political routine that saw a perpetuation of a laissez-faire attitude on not only how Banjul was fairing, but the entire country.

The city's social fabric was just as threatened as its physical structure. The only thing Banjulians consoled themselves with was the inconsequential thought that the seat of government was within their reach, which naturally triggers seemingly eternal illusory thoughts of there being 'light at the end of the tunnel'.

However, for the people of Banjul, until the dawn of the July 22nd Revolution, which set off a more tangible air of optimism, being inhabitants of a capital city meant nothing other than being mere spectators of the status quo. The realities of 15 years of experience have nonetheless resulted in a more buoyant population. Banjul has never been more ready to free itself from the fetters of the shackles of its immediate past history. "The Revolution is the best thing to have happened to Gambians in general and Banjulians in particular," Samba Faal, the city's mayor, told the Observer July 22nd Bus crew.

Banjulians, he added, are very much committed to the Revolution. The symbol of the Revolution, the Arch 22, is situated at the very entrance into this city, and this, by itself, means quite a lot to the people here. "It could have been built anywhere else," Mayor Samba Faal pointed out. Make no mistake about it; the people of Banjul have more reasons to rally behind the APRC government than just the honour of hosting such a rather symbolic relic. With the coming of the APRC, gradually, the formerly colonial outlook of the city has vanished, amidst intense work towards its modernisation. Quite a number of roads have either been built or rehabilitated.

Banjul is changing in terms of its original role of being a mere political settlement to both an economic and political settlement, Mayor Faal observed. The aim, he said, is to become an economic base in the sub-region. And the basis for this ambitious goal has been set.

As a way of empowering the women folk of the city, government created, for the first time, a loan revolving scheme for the women of Banjul. This, according to Mayor Faal, has contributed immensely in uplifting not only the entrepreneurial skills of the women, but also availed quite a lot of them the opportunity to realise their full potential. The idea of establishing the Banjul Ice Plant also constitutes a very big drive for poverty reduction. And in addition to the Albert Market, government constructed a second market at Lasso Wharf  "to cater for more outflow", as Mayor Faal put it.

The mayor pointed out that the lofty ideas for development by President Jammeh had since been manifested from the early days of the Revolution, and this, he said, had resulted in the upgrading of so many dilapidated structures in the city of Banjul. The economic potential of Banjul continues to be pursued with such a measured rigour, as can be explained in ongoing efforts to expand the Banjul Port as well as the president's well expressed intention of generally rebuilding the city, turning it into a modern one. As a matter of fact, according to Mayor Faal, Banjulians actually began to realise the true economic potential of the port of Banjul with the coming of the Revolution.

Banjulians have also enjoyed a lot in terms of the government's education policy. For instance Garba Jahumpa Upper Basic School came into being during the Revolution. It was constructed by the government through the Banjul City Council. ''The reality is that it is a product of the Revolution, and it was born out of the spirit of the Revolution. The idea is all part of the ideals of the Revolution,'' Mayor Faal said. And plans are underway to widen the scope of education provision with the construction of a more blocks to house a senior secondary school.

A jealously guarded environmental sanitation routine has made Banjul one of the cleanest cities in the sub region. Mayor Faal recalls a BBC breakfast programme, Network Africa, proclaiming Banjul, through its contributors, as one of the cleanest places on the continent. This, he indicated, vindicates the president's pioneering decision of establishing the monthly cleansing exercise.

In terms of the beauty of the city, the recently concluded multimillion dollar street lighting project, which runs from Westfield to Banjul, goes far into the heart of the city. This has changed, tremendously, the look of this beautiful place. "Whatever promises he [President Jammeh] made from 1994 to date, we have seen him fulfil them, so we are sure that he will do whatever he has said he will," Mayor Faal said, in reference to the president's recent pronouncement of turning Banjul into a modern city. He pointed to the changing face of the July 22nd Square as an indication of the president's commitment to transforming the physical outlook of the city. According to the mayor, more roads within the city have been earmarked for rehabilitation - about five of them.

The Brikama Garage has already been constructed to a higher standard, alongside the provision of two new funeral vans. And just recently, we saw the inauguration of four new military patrol boats from Taiwan, representing the triumph the government has experienced in terms of the assurance of security. Over the years, the government has secured two ferries, as part of its effort to improve on the transportation needs for the people who frequent the crossing points between Barra and Banjul.

Banjul is also set to be the proud host of a state of the art National Assembly complex, a project conceived by the Gambian leader, who has also indicated his intention of constructing an edifice that would house all government departments. Banjul abattoir, which had not been functional for 15 years, got rehabilitated through the initiative of the president himself.

In the area of justice, government can pride itself on the ever increased demonstration of commitment to the rule of law. President Jammeh is on record as having regularly called for speedy and fair justice delivery. And the construction of the Banjul Magistrates Court is a physical testimony to this show of commitment.

Health

Health service delivery is among the key founding pillars of the Revolution. Since 1994 massive and impressive changes in human resource, biochemicals and drugs have been registered.

As a move to guaranteeing a reliable health service delivery, the government has spent the rest of the last 15 years of the Revolution equipping Gambians with the knowledge and skills required to take over much needed services provisions like health, education, agricultural production, etc. In the area of health, the establishment of the medical school, the precursor to the founding of the University of The Gambia, remains a historic move in the annals of this country. Banjul is the proud host of this school.


Subsequently, the Royal Victoria Hospital was transformed into a teaching hospital, as part of effort to improve on the teaching process at the medical school of the university. "One needs to meet a number of requirement in order to have a hospital turned into the standard of a teaching hospital, from modification of wards to the provision of a certain level of human resource base," stated Dr Tamsir Mbowe, chief medical director of RVTH, and the director general of the Presidential Treatment Programme.

Also a great improvement on the doctor-patient ratio has been achieved; bringing the number of doctors from an average of 6 to more than 200, with the provision of new biomedical equipment, among a number of advanced machines that have changed the performance of the hospital. They include CT scanner, haemodialysis, endoscopic and x-ray machines. There has also been improvements in the paediatric ward. Bed capacity had formerly been insufficient. But now government has ensured an increased level of improvement in this regard. "All these have helped in improving on the quality of health services, and it explains why many foreign students flock into the country to do their electives in medicine," Dr Mbowe stated.

As a former minister of Health, Dr Mbowe is well versed in the developments that have taking place within these 15 years in the area of health. "There have been renovations of old buildings within these 15 years and construction of new ones," Dr Mbowe pointed out. According to him, the result of these investments, as it had been envisaged, points to the fact that patients now access to wide range of medications. "Services like maternal and child health are free of charge in this country," he said, "an exemplary routine in the sub region."  With a population of 35,000, only 1/3 of Banjul is inhabitable, the rest is water. And the threat from the sea had at some point been a point of monumental concern.

Banjulians had been in a state of disarray, preoccupied with what would happen if nothing was done to counter the threat of a fast approaching sea. This fear has now vanished, thanks to an epic project aimed at regaining the beaches of this city. This has also greatly contributed in improving on the living standards of the people. Banjulians are now enjoying the beauty of their beaches more than ever before.

This publication is directed by
Pa Malick Faye

Writers:
Kemo AM Cham
Hatab Fadera
Sheriff Janko

Photos:
Ebou (Taaru) Njie

Driver:
Musa Sanno