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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 11:22:16
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THE BAD STATE OF THE ROADS WITHIN SERREKUNDA
Our roads are a source of illness and diseases. The people of Serrekunda, Bakoteh, London Corner, SOS and Sukuta needs better treatment by the regime of Yahya Jammeh.
The daily travel hassle is so intense ordinary people from the affected areas mention above have to wake up very early in the morning to start their journey within the towns of Serrekunda.On average passengers pay fairs until they nearly start to scream.
I tell you my average fair and the number of vehicles I change before I get to Banjul. I live in Bakoteh, from Bakoteh to Serrekunda Senegambia garage the fair is D5, from Senegambia garage to Westfield is D5, from west field to Banjul is D6 .And within Banjul the vehicles have many other restrictions, so the distance which use to be a vehicle hub is now a long walk. A single trip can cost up to D17. How many people can afford this horrendous amount?
Early in the morning, Vans start from Bakoteh Tipper garage to Banjul, the fare for that journey is D12. This is cheaper for people living in the vicinity of Tipper garage. But for me, I commute from Bakoteh layout to Tipper garage for these Vans, since many commuters wish to save money, we scramble for these Vans. The Gambia doesn't have any public buses .The Van drivers can charge any fare they wish because of the monopoly.
The road situation is so sad. I usually see the APRC members of parliament from Sukuta and beyond driving their comfortable four wheel cars passing by commuters every morning, whilst the resident of Serrekunda and sukuta swallow the dust and heat.
The Vans are seen regularly trying to avoid potholes, this avoidance swing them at pedestrians also trying to utilize the safer areas of the dilapidated roads.
The Van drivers with their rude aparantees and the pedestrians continually trade insults and swearing due to all of them trying to use the sides of the roads that are a bit level.
Some times when trucks pass you on the Serrekunda road, only the power of God keep you without coughing your lungs out. The dust is red, tick and bitter and the trucks blow it every where.
The bravery of the residents of Serrekunda to Sukuta pass Bakoteh is immense, these people with all the neglect by the useless government of James junkun Jammeh aka Yahya go about there business without any hindarance.They put the APRC government to shame.
The president I am told doesn't travel on that road. He and his entourage always use the coastal roads or the Westfield to Yundum road.
MY FEARS
The majority of people from London Corner, Bakoteh, SoS, Sanchabah, Sukuta, Burufut and the nearby villages of Serrekunda buy there daily UNDUGA (food ingredients) from the dusty Serrekunda market, imagine the contamination in the food stuffs.
They have no choice but to eat the food that is bought from the Serrekunda market with dust. Now this is a health hazard. The hospitals are not up to scratch yet our roads are increasing the level of illnesses.
As soon as night falls, the visibility level drops close to 10 meters only. This is dangerous for all pedestrians.
The government needs to realize that a healthy and good road is source of progress and national empowerment. The people living in the affected areas need a better treatment; our children need to be safe on the roads and the vehicle owners need help in maintaining their source of revenue on the roads. A bad road lead to the continual breakdown of vehicles be it work vehicles, commercial vehicles and medical ambulances. A good road encourages investment and shortens the time of travel and these will help us in our own way of tackling the threats of global warming.
The intention is not to shame my country which I love dearly, but to expose the neglect and disregard on the side of my government. It is an Islamic and human duty for citizen who pays taxes to speak out against mismanagement and inefficiency.
I applaud the people of Serrekunda to Sukuta for their courage in walking the roads that are not fit for a twenty first century man. The system fail you, the politicians fail you and our journalist need to be stronger in there spirit and efforts in bringing the truth to the public domain.
I am a patriotic Gambian and I love each and every citizen of our blessed lands.
The promise regularly given by the government to build those roads are not worthy of listening to. The people need actions. Imagine how those roads will be like in the raining season? They will not only become DOMODAH, but they will be SUPERKANJA instead after the fungus and bacteria infested them. This was my personal observation on the bad state of our roads during my stay in the Gambia in the Month of November 2007.
The pictures are taken during my November 2007 visit to the Gambia.
Suntou Touray
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Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 13:42:03
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All you have said is true,the fares charged by the minibus drivers are confusing but THEY have been forced to make these fares the way they are because they are unable to make a living charging the regulated fares,the police are very quick to jump on them if they do not charge the regulated fare,the cost of fuel is the main problem.Minibusses from Serrekunda to Banjul is 6D but transports in the morning are few,if however you chose the new route from Serekunda "terminal" cost 10D you can drop at Gambia High and walk a little and there are more transports.The state of the roads are a government problem and give the president his due he has completed several major road projects during his time,MAYBE the bad roads that you complain of will be upgraded sometime soon.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 14:15:06
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quote:
Uncle Santa...The intention is not to shame my country which I love dearly, but to expose the neglect and disregard on the side of my government. It is an Islamic and human duty for citizen who pays taxes to speak out against mismanagement and inefficiency.
Uncle Suntou,
With the pictures above, you've succeeded in trashing 'human neglect and disregard' to the gutters. You've written the story alongside the pictures as a clear testimony of time. Thanks for your sharp and vibrant pen always, and also for your spirit to genuinely share and inform about things that matter a lot.
On a note, I was overtaken by errands and couldn't have posted the pics on Gainako, which I must apologize to my uncle for openly.
Urs in Kin,
Dalton |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 15:22:43
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Santanfara
Seeing is believing.
Beyond the explicit orderly presentation of your factual findings these photos speak volumes. The other question that comes in mind is to find out if this bragging regime by any way constructed new roads in the course 13 years turmoil of Gambians. Paving new roads is lot more costly than upgrading existing roads. How many new roads have been paved to improve the efficiency of transportation in Gambia since July 1994? There is too much talking for nothing.
Your piece reveals beyond words. |
Karamba |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 15:36:07
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| Toubab you can't put it any better. This is drop in the ocean with regards to the roads built by APRC gov't. Give the Devil his due. Telling the truth is an important part of Faith(Islam or Christianity. Cheap shot this one. |
madiss |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 16:07:02
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People from the Farafeeni Balanghar, Kaur axis should have have been extinct if the dust between Sukuta and Westfield can be outrageoulsy dangerous for less than two yrs. It is unhealthy by all standards, but shooting the roof is sensational. Many of us come from places in the provinces were tar-roads are are luxury in those days. People from Gunjur, Kartong, Brufut, Sanyang or merely the entire coast would have also been extinct by now. For these people for over thirty yrs travelled these dusty paths not roads or better still ask the people of Mandinary who not only had to trek to Lamin to catch transport because the road was so bad that only a landrover or two ply the 15mins journey not more than twice a day. These people suffered that for over three decades. The present state of the Sukuta Westfield stretch is not more than three yrs, the last time i travelled on it.
My only quarrel with Jammeh and his APRC, is largely governance in terms of (human right abuse, un explained deaths, the unspecified term limit, press freedom ect). On the development front like roads and others infratsructure, education it is kudos.
If we the youth and future leaders of tomoroow want to be taken seriously we must do away with tribal politics, mis-information campaigns and hate.
Peace. |
madiss |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 16:47:12
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| the good man madiba want to tell us that any one who oppose yahya is doing that base on tribal grounds. if that is so ,then any one who support him is doing that base on similar grounds. does that make sense. what a misguided theory madis. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 16:53:13
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| serre kunda is one the bigest trading centre in the gambia. the population densecity is more than any other region in the gambia. if you think the coarstal road can be a substitute for that over populated area ,you are mistaken old man madis. it is nearly impossible to drive from westfied to sukuta. that is a straight road. not out of town ,but in town .that road is the most active road in the Gambia .the number of vehilce breaking down on that road is phenominal. the regime should have taken care of what is of most pressing. how many taxes are collected within that area alone? don't try to fool people. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 17:01:19
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The infrastructure issue we all know by now falls in the band of creating false development hopes. Gambia is going deeper down day by day. Adding to the cruelty meted out to innocent citizens shatters the pride of Gambians except for those who wished to be deceived and to deceive others. Let us keep the cards away from our chest to let reason prevail. |
Karamba |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 18:27:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Santanfara
the good man madiba want to tell us that any one who oppose yahya is doing that base on tribal grounds. if that is so ,then any one who support him is doing that base on similar grounds. does that make sense. what a misguided theory madis.
Santa, where did i say the above line directly or indirectly? If you think am Jammehrite its a mistake you are making. However a progressive Gambian. I am not in anyway related to Jammeh, i am far from being a Jola. Infact am their master. I am Halpular by group. So if i was tribalistic what better choice than support Hamat Bah?
So please the wise one dnt put words into my mouth
What i always pleaded here as my past threads can attest to is for us to see only The Gambia and her interests.
Rest assured that Madiba is not a Jammehrite or tribalist. I speak Fula, Mandinka, Wolof, understand little (Serrer, Jola, Karoninka,). This is because I had friends from school and have worked in communities where these groups dominate. Here in the UK my friends and i predominantly speak Mandinka, my wife is Mandinka. |
madiss |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 20:01:12
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Slow Down there,as usual postings are getting off the point,it all started with roads and the state they were in,I am sorry to say that it disintegrated into Politics and Tribal slanging match,get back on track (OK, I know there are no Railways in The Gambia !)
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 13 Jan 2008 20:03:16 |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 20:09:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Karamba
Santanfara
Seeing is believing.
Beyond the explicit orderly presentation of your factual findings these photos speak volumes. The other question that comes in mind is to find out if this bragging regime by any way constructed new roads in the course 13 years turmoil of Gambians. Paving new roads is lot more costly than upgrading existing roads. How many new roads have been paved to improve the efficiency of transportation in Gambia since July 1994? There is too much talking for nothing.
Your piece reveals beyond words.
Well how many new roads have been constructed in the last 13 years,? I dont know, perhaps you can help us here with the correct distance of new road construction.
On the way to Brikama there is a new compound that contains many new roadmaking machines and trucks that appear to be busy constructing NEW roads in the Area,The Contractors APPEAR to be from Europe and not Senegal,know anything about that?
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2008 : 01:56:58
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| The roads in the Gambia is worst than a War Zone,no wonder cars don't last very long.Even a Tank will broke down after awhile on the Sukuta road lol. |
There is no god but Allah |
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Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2008 : 05:30:58
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Yeah santafara seeing is believing and what i have seen i will narrrate to you bit by bit. The Sukuta road you are talking about for the past two decades has always been in that same condition as is today may be a little worse. As was rightly stated they have their elected representatives they voted driving in their comfortable SUV's passing them daily and raising a whole lot of dust. Ask your self why do they keep voting for such incompetent people if they can't even provide them with the basic services they need?. Yahya Jammeh is not God he can't point his JASSIE and say let it be and Gambia becomes heaven. By the way one of the roads you call a pothole is not a pot hole but it seems as if it is being worked on . Its a striaght line across meaning either someone is laying pipes or whatever. The rest is called "YORNE NI GANAW " who cares.
Love it or leave it jammeh has built more roads and tried to be more practical in that aspect. The problem is most of you have not gone to other countries with a far better economy yet their roads most of the time are intolerable and unsafe like some roads in Gambia. Have you ever been to Mexico or some of the south american countries, Trust me Gambia came a long way.
The problem that need to be addressed is the FILTH you see which am pretty sure YAHYA didn't put there. In most modern cities littering is punishable by a fine and i think that would be a start for Gambians, The peolpe of serrekunda ,Sukuta , and the vicinity need to address their filth problem first. We are tired of cheap thrills and wannna be online professors who should be working for the civil service and thinking about retirement,instead of migrating to the west for so called greener pastures.
Even then Jammeh is blamed for their migration. Are you people aware of how many mexicans and other foreign nationals die daily trying to make it to America?. Which is a personal choice and risk taken by the undertaker yet jammeh is blamed for the youths persihing in the ocean. Pretty soon he will be blamed for the migration of the youths leaving their farms behind for city life which am sure he has been blamed for too.
Let me begin to tell you what i found out, In twenty years time the Gambia you used to know will be run by the children of foreigners and don't be suprised when a toubab says i am a citizen and i am going to be president then we will get to realize where we went wrong and i know one tribe will definetly throw a fit. Whilst ya'll busy migrating the smiling coast has become home to many and they own all the new businesses and most of the buildings everyone is calling false hope.
Gambia of yesterday is different from Gambia of today and only progressive minded people will get to reap the benefit at the end of the day. Young Gambian entrepeneurs are breaking ground from nothing to something whilst everyone is busy being a key board junky and dr Owl.
Young guys who graduated high school less than 15 years ago have recognized the signs and are living up to expectation, delivering and doing their Thug tizzle most of them worth several million dalasis or dollars . Whilst ya'll busy playing professor NUTTS and hill billy bob Gambia is going forward love it or leave it.
Even in America if you live in the ghetto you have no choice but to live under unsanitary conditions and bad roads with hella pot holes. For a country that has undergone so many restitrictions for loans and grants Yahya jammeh indeed has given it the best he's got and is improving on it daily http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/2008/1/14/citystate-gambia-1
http://www.thepoint.gm/headlines2666.htm
For those of ya'll who think am a Jammehrite think again cos my favourite politicains in Gamba are Waa Juwara , OJ and Halifah. Yet recognizing and criticizing constructively which is any man's god given right is what outta be done.
You sit there and complain about the fare price, WELL FOR YOUR INFORMATION SO does every driver. Do you know the recent price of oil or gas, i guess not since you had to catch a taxi everywhere you went. Gambia is nothing but total niceness let noone fool ya, People who decided to stay and do something about it are reaping the benefits of being productive individuals , Young enterpreneurs runing the show at Unique solutions , Quantumnet , Hatib janneh, Jegg cham Manga etc and i can keep naming them till tomorrow. Now ask your selves the three mafio's what have you been doing lately...........................................Peace |
I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
Edited by - Moe on 15 Jan 2008 17:35:18 |
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Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2008 : 05:36:51
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"SI ME HABEY MENYANG MI OKORAYE MA DEBOE" ,there is a big difference being real or fake..............................Peacequote:
Originally posted by MADIBA
People from the Farafeeni Balanghar, Kaur axis should have have been extinct if the dust between Sukuta and Westfield can be outrageoulsy dangerous for less than two yrs. It is unhealthy by all standards, but shooting the roof is sensational. Many of us come from places in the provinces were tar-roads are are luxury in those days. People from Gunjur, Kartong, Brufut, Sanyang or merely the entire coast would have also been extinct by now. For these people for over thirty yrs travelled these dusty paths not roads or better still ask the people of Mandinary who not only had to trek to Lamin to catch transport because the road was so bad that only a landrover or two ply the 15mins journey not more than twice a day. These people suffered that for over three decades. The present state of the Sukuta Westfield stretch is not more than three yrs, the last time i travelled on it.
My only quarrel with Jammeh and his APRC, is largely governance in terms of (human right abuse, un explained deaths, the unspecified term limit, press freedom ect). On the development front like roads and others infratsructure, education it is kudos.
If we the youth and future leaders of tomoroow want to be taken seriously we must do away with tribal politics, mis-information campaigns and hate.
Peace.
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I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
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Sibo
Denmark
231 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2008 : 09:14:33
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| I just came back from Gambia less than a weeek ago. For people living in for instance Brufut have to take 2 or 2 different minibuses just to get to serrekunda. The buses from Brufut only goes to tipper garrage for 8 dalasis, from there one has to take a taxi for another 5 dalasis. So if one is livivng in brufut without a private car, its really difficult to get around. And with a private car, if you wanna avoide crecking your car, you have to take the costalroad to kololi and go that way which takes more time than the sukuta road. The main road in the village of brufut is in a terrile condition, there are big hole all over the place. The distance between busubi and brufut should not take more than 5 min, but because of the bad condition the road is in, it takes around 20 min. |
Edited by - Sibo on 15 Jan 2008 09:15:03 |
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