MOTTO: A TRANSPARENT, RESPONSIVE AND EFFECTIVE BANJUL CITY COUNCIL FOR A CLEANER, HABITABLE AND THRIVING CITY
BABOUCARR M GAYE
I have been serving the inhabitants of the City of Banjul, including Soldier Town Ward, for more than three decades now through my active involvement and participation in numerous social, cultural and sporting groups and activities. These engagements have taken me to different places both in the Gambia and abroad representing the groups and country.
Now I am seeking the direct mandate of the people in order to continue rendering such a noble service in an official context by contesting as a 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 Soldier Town 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.
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 Soldier Town 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 BABOUCARR .M. GAYE?
Baboucarr .M. Gaye, commonly known as ‘Mbye Gaye’, was born on the 21 November 1956 in Banjul where he was also brought up. He started his childhood education in 1964 when he attended St. Augustine’s Primary School where he spent six years and sat to the Common Entrance Examination. In 1970, he was enrolled at the St. Augustine’s Secondary School and after four years had his Secondary School Leaving Certificate.
Upon finishing his secondary school in 1974, Mr. Gaye joined the Shipping Department of the Gambia Produced Marketing Board (GPMB) as a Shipping Clerk and Loading and Discharging Officer. In 1980, after having demonstrated efficiency, dedication and commitment in his work, he was promoted to the position of Supervisor under the same Unit until 1985.
He was transferred to the GPMB Transit Section as Transit Officer covering, Barra, Denton Bridge, Kaur and Basse from 1986 to 1990.
From 1991 to 1996, he worked at the National Partnership Entreprise (NPE) as a Processing Clerk and Storekeeper with the responsibility keeping records and taking stock of the company’s transactions.
However, Mr. Gaye’s experience with shipping work gave him the opportunity to be hired as Senior Processing Clerk in 1996 by the same shipping company and where he worked until 1998. From 1991 to 2003, he worked for Karl Marketing Agency as a Clearing and Forwarding Officer and a Storekeeper.
Apart from his extensive engagement in the world of work, Mr. Gaye is equally active and immersed in different milieus in the areas of sports, culture and community organisation.
His involvement in these social, sporting and cultural activities is motivated by the desire to promote harmony and the unity in diversity which characterises the community and social fabric in Banjul. However, this exemplary nature of Mr. Gaye has earned him the respect of the people of Banjul, both young and old.
Mr. Gaye has served in numerous organisations where he held or still holds positions of responsibility. He served as a co-opted member of the Banjul Sports Committee in the 1990/91 Nawetan season. From 1990 to 1996, he was made the President of the famous ‘Sangamar Football Team.
He became the President of the then Banjul Nawetan giants, the Pignados from 1999 to 2002. He again served as an executive member of Banjul Sports Committee, for the second time, from 200 to 2004.
He became an official of Wallidan FC, one of the leading football teams in the national league, and was the Assistant Manager of the team from 1999 to 2000. He is now the Manager of this football team in the GFF League.
He was part of the official Gambian delegation that accompanied the national Under 17 Football Team for a training camp in Egypt. Mr. Gaye is now a football executive serving the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) as a Protocol Officer responsible for handling all visa related transactions and attending officials from FIFA, CAF and other guests of the Federation.
As noted, Mr. Gaye’s interest is not only restricted in sports but the promotion of culture as well. He has been a member of the Eku Baba Hunting society, a cultural group, since 1999 and is now its Omo Baba or Vice President.
He joined the Young Rising Ojeh cultural society in 2013 and was elevated in 2014 to the position of Akba or head of a leading parkin society in Banjul.
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.