The President, H.E. Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh was Thursday treated to a power point presentation by the Management Holding Limited, a Canadian based company currently seeking entry into the country's booming construction industry. The company which is already operating in more than 80 countries around the world, is set to forge partnership with the Assets Management and Recovery Corporation (AMRC) and the Kanilai Group International (KGI) for the construction of a new housing scheme with an initial investment plan of 40 million Euros. Approval was granted for the company to start work in The Gambia with immediate effect. This, after a thorough scrutiny of its housing development plan by the President and members of his Cabinet whose sole desire is to provide affordable housing to majority of the population. The President, however, insists on quality and for delivery to be in record time regardless of the demand.
PRESIDENT JAMMEH:
"Many companies have come and talk big and then eventually after our encounter.....YOUR SINCERELY I HOPE YOU WILL NOT BE THAT TYPE OF COMPANY.... because we are sincere and we are genuine and we are ready to work because we have a vision to accomplish".
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He still went further to underscore the importance of consistency and the respect for agreements:
"I always want when you say I will do this you do it. Don't wait until we agree and we sign everything and then you start bringing technicalities...if you tell me that I can build a house in four months I expect that in four months and I can give you an allowance of one extra month and in five months I should have my house. But I don't want you to tell me four months that will translate into four years".
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He promised them the site as well as the moral and the financial support in order to end what he called a chronic housing problem in the country:
"Our major problem is providing appropriate housing for the appropriate level of the civil servants, men in uniform, and for all Gambians that require housing. It is a major problem in this country and you coming in at this stage at the entry to my fourth five year term, is welcome news".
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The Management Holding Limited, has in presenting its products and services, promised the construction of low and affordable houses for all categories of people irrespective of their earnings. Its top management that met the President claimed to have not only the technology but also the capacity to construct 1000 houses for a duration of not more than 3 years. The group's Vice President Muhammed Al-aydi and its President and CEO Muchtar Jagne believe their experience in Senegal will help them make a sting in The Gambia's construction industry with a technology that is precisely new to this part of the world.
At the level of Cabinet, the project is being regarded as a blessing, but that according to the Vice President, H.E. Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy, is when the company operates within the afford of the civil servant.
The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Fatou Lamin Faye, is also optimistic that such offers will serve as incentives for her staff in the teaching field, many of whom, she said, are most often destitute after retirement.
The country stands to gain a lot from the project, ranging from technology transfer, skills acquisition and more importantly employment.
By Abdou Njie, GRTS
