HERE IS THE PDOIS COUNCIL ELECTION CANDIDATES FOR BANJUL CAMPAMA WARD PRESENTING HIS PROGRAMME OR MANIFESTO TO THE ELECTORATE
I have been voluntarily serving the inhabitants of Campama Ward or ‘Tobacco Road’ in the City of Banjul for many years now through my involvement in community based organisations and participation in social and sporting activities.
I am now seeking the direct mandate of the people in order to continue serving them by contesting for the position of Councillor under the ticket of PDOIS in the forthcoming 12 April 2018 local government elections.
As a PDOIS sponsored Candidate, I stand for a Transparent, Responsive and Effective Banjul City Council (BCC) that is capable of bringing about a Cleaner, Habitable and Thriving City for its inhabitants.
PLEDGE
I wish to solemnly pledge, if elected into office as a Councillor for Campama Ward, that I will commit myself to serving the community and city of Banjul, in accordance with the laws or powers and functions of Local Government institutions as well as the PDOIS principles of commitment, dedication and selfless service to the sovereign people of the Gambia. In my stewardship as an elected City Councillor, I will ensure the following:
Transparency in the operation of the Banjul City Council by pushing for Council proceedings to be made open to the public as required by Section 30 of the Local Government Act, 2002 as well as the practice of democracy and good governance.
Accountability to the electorate for all moneys that accrue to the Council from levies, taxes, government subvention and other legitimate sources.
Responsiveness of Council to the concerns and needs of the inhabitants in terms of the provision of essential, timely and efficient services by proactively participating in the planning and implementation of programmes and projects.
Community participation by pushing for the involvement of the people in the conception and execution of development plans at both the Ward and City levels.
Effectiveness of the Council in utilising its resources for the development of the city and the welfare of its inhabitants by putting in place an efficient and robust waste management system, good infrastructure, improved social services, etc.
Innovation geared towards identifying other alternative sources of none tax revenue for the Council to increase its resource base in order to be able to sustain the provision of the much needed services.
Community participation by pushing for the involvement of the people in the conception and execution of development plans at both the Ward and City levels.
WHAT MOTIVATES ME TO CONTEST?
As a sovereign Gambian citizen, I am exercising my right to stand for election under a PDOIS ticket in order to provide for the Campama Ward, in particular, and the inhabitants of Banjul, in general, the type of political representation at the local government level that puts the interest of the people first before self. I felt oblige to contest in this election in order to get the mandate of the people to help find solutions to reverse the trend of a rapid decline and deterioration of the city in terms of infrastructure, sanitation, population, social and economic activities. The present condition of the streets, drainage system and the environmental sanitation, among others, leaves much to be desired and therefore needs urgent action. Hence, the city of Banjul is in dire need of essential social services, infrastructure and other amenities, e.g. recreational activities, etc.
If elected into office, I will be engaging in scrutinizing the revenue collection and budget of Council to ensure that the resources are available and properly utilised to provide for the necessary services to the residents of the city.
I will be engaging all the stakeholders within the ward and municipality to participate in initiatives and activities aimed at improving the conditions of their neighbourhoods as well as promoting their welfare.
The quality representation characterised by clarity, humility, commitment and devotion to the welfare of the people, as being amply demonstrated by the current National Assembly Members of PDOIS both inside and outside of the National Assembly, is what I will endeavor to do when elected to office as Councillor.
WHO IS ABDOULIE CEESAY?
Abdoulie Ceesay was born on the 26th of April 1968 at # 63 Hagan Street in the Half Die section of Banjul. He did part of his childhood there before the family moved to his father’s compound in Tobacco Road in 1982. He attended Muhammedan Primary School and later transferred to Kerr Mama Primary School in Upper Nuimi where he sat his Common Entrance Examination. After that he went to Saint Augustine Senior Secondary School from where he joined his late father, who was a master boat builder or Shipwright, locally called ‘Charpantier’, to acquire boat building skills. From 1988 to 1989, Abdoulie Ceesay worked with his father in his contracts to build boats, including the ‘Cutter’ Boat he built for the National Museum.
He later left to work at the then Royal Victoria Hospital (now Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital) as a Revenue Depositor for 9 years before working as a Sailor for six months on board the ocean going vessel called Hascle Weather which took him to Spain and Portugal. After his contract with the ocean going vessel ended, he returned home and purchased a taxi vehicle to start a transport business and became self-employed.
With passion for his trade and the sea, Abdoulie Ceesay was again employed as a Sailor in a tourist boat called Cambi Bolong where he worked from 1994 until the company closed down business in 1997. From there he proceeded to work as an apprentice pilot for ‘Juffureh’, a Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) vessel, for five (5) years before being promoted to the position of a pilot in the boat named Lady Zainab as a Quarter Master.
Abdoulie Ceesay is therefore asking for the mandate of the electorate of Campama Ward to enable him to utilise his wealth of experience, knowledge and skills together with his passion for community service to work towards the improvement of the condition of the Ward and City as well as address the welfare of the inhabitants.
NOTE FROM THE EDITORS: The Gambia Times has not endorsed candidates in the local government elections but provides a platform to publish and disseminate their manifestos to the electorates. The Times encourages all candidates to send in their manifestos for publication in their quest to propagate their ideas and win the support of the voters in their respective wards and localities. Candidates may send their manifestos and press releases to info@thegambiatimes.com for publication.