President Jammeh poses a photo with GPTC staff and the Gambia's Liaison officer Kassim Njie Dampha with his collaborator Cirilo Viso Romo from Barcelona

---

GPTC Chairman Board of Directors James George hands over the bus keys to the Corporation's Manager Momodou Jagne.

Pictures taken by Statehouse Photographer.

Earlier News Reports available at Archives

3rd November 2003:

President Yahya Jammeh on Monday commissioned thirty-one buses earmarked for the Gambia Public Transport Corporation at a ceremony at State House. The commissioning is the second in six months and the buses have been acquired from Spain through a joint Gambia Government Transport Metropolitan de Barcelona initiative. The delivery is the single biggest procurement ever undertaken by the GPTC since its establishment in 1975. The Public Transport Corporation has been going through difficult moments with a depleted and aging fleet.

When President Jammeh donated eight buses back in May, he pledged to turn the Corporation's fortunes around and place it on the path to its rightful place in the country's transport industry. The acquisition of this additional thirty one articulated Mercedes and Pegaso buses is perhaps a giant leap for the public transport outfit, underscored by the presence of almost the staff compliment of GPTC to witness the historic occasion. The President disclosed that he had to refuse so called expert advice to lay off the corporation's staff en mass at its most trying moments in its existence. He said it was morally unacceptable and would amount to a betrayal, which his administration would never condone. "It was the government's responsibility to provide the buses. So why should the staff suffer?" President Jammeh questioned.

President Jammeh however warned the GPTC and the beneficiaries to use the buses judiciously and demonstrate a sense of patriotism. The abuse and misuse of the facilities is a culture that deserves zero tolerance. The President cited one incident in which an official of the Corporation was quoted as having said, "let them (meaning the government) bring in the buses and we will keep them off the road." The President asked the rationale for keeping such people in positions of trust and confidence hence the intention represents the highest degree of disloyalty and unpatriotism.

President Jammeh finally thanked Kassim Njie Dampha, the Gambia's Liaison officer in Barcelona and his collaborators and challenged others to emulate his sense of patriotism
The former Secretary of State for Works, Construction and Infrastructure, whose ministry coordinated the transactions said the county's transport industry has been a major concern for the President and turning GPTC's fortune was a solemn undertaking for Dr. Jammeh. He recounted the several instances the President had been making personal follow-ups to ensure that urgent actions are taken to bail GPTC out.

The Managing Director of the Corporation Momodou Jagne said the corporation is at the crossroads poised to make a fresh start. He said the corporation has suffered from a series of problems including lack of spares, the right type of buses and an aging and depleting fleet. These problems would almost certainly be a part of its history, at least for now.