ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 1994 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LANDS

 

1. DECENTRALISATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

In accordance with the provisions of the 1996 Constitution, the Department of State for Local Government and Lands has been coordinating the process of decentralization in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders. In this regard, a Local Government Reform and Decentralization Policy have been developed. Subsequent to this, Local Government Elections were held in 2002 following the enactment of the Local Government Act 2002. However, in fulfillment of Section 130 of the Local Government Act 2002, the Local Government Finance and Audit Act was enacted in 2004 to regulate the financial affairs of councils. Furthermore, following the enactment of the Local Government Act 2002, the Department of State for Local Government and Lands realized some anomalies connected with the implementation of the Act, which led to difficulties in reaching crucial decisions. It is for this reason that the Act was amended in 2004 to correct those anomalies, which are necessary to engender the effective facilitation, monitoring and supervision of Councils by the Department of State.

2. LAND ADMINISTRATION

In December 2000, the Government of The Gambia, through the Department of State for Local Government and Lands, and the Government of Japan signed a Technical Cooperation agreement for the establishment of a Geographic database for the Department of Lands and Surveys. The objectives of the Study are to:

i) prepare digital topographic maps covering the whole country at a scale of 1:50,000 that will assist the government of The Gambia in developing various plans and programmes and;
ii) pursue technology transfer during the course of the study.

On completion of the project in January 2003, the following products were obtained and provided to the Department of State:

i) Negative films of aerial photographs covering the entire country
ii) Contact prints of aerial photographs covering the entire country
iii) 1:50,000 topographic maps covering the entire country (films for printing and printed maps)
iv) 1:50,000 digital topographic database (in CD-ROM)

During the past ten years, a number of residential layouts have been planned, demarcated and allocated to provide more housing opportunities for the general public. These include Nemasu, Brufut, Bijilo and Tanji layouts. In addition an Institutional layout was created at Mile Seven to cater for the growing demand for Institutional land.

3. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

The major objectives of the Poverty Alleviation and Capacity Development Project (PACABP) are to assist councils provide physical infrastructure and other developments that will enhance their revenue regeneration capacities. It should be noted that property rates/taxes provide a significant amount of Councils' revenue base. It is in this regard that the PACAB Project has undertaken the following major subprojects:

i) Property Identification and Valuation

A system of property tax has been developed based on the valuation of properties. In collaboration with the Department of Lands and Surveys, a number of high value properties have been identified for this purpose.

ii) Urban Mapping

To facilitate future property identification by Councils, the Project has undertaken a comprehensive map revision exercise of the seven major growth centers of the country. The final output of this exercise is the production of large scale cadastral maps at scales of 1:1250 and 1:2500 produced from both ground survey and aerial photography.

iii) Relocation of the Bakoteh Dumpsite

Following numerous studies on the present condition of the Bakoteh waste disposal site, the PACAB Project has allocated 1.3 million Dollars to properly engineer the Bakoteh dump site and make it environmentally friendly in the next three to four years as a short terms solution. Meanwhile a long-term solution for the final closure of Bakoteh is under consideration.

This will render Bakoteh as a transfer station while the land fill will be transferred to Tambana near Brikama as all the studies have identified Tambana to be the most suitable.

iv) Roads and Storm Water Drains

Given the present poor condition of roads in the Greater Banjul Area, the Project has embarked upon the construction of 14 roads in KMC and 8 streets in Banjul. Work on some of these roads has actually started. In addition to these other roads have also been constructed at Brikama and Gambisara. Storm water Drains have been constructed at Bakau, Brikama and Bansang.

v) Car Parks and Markets

The Project has already completed the construction of car parks in Brikama and Barra. This is addition to markets in Banjul, Bundung, Tallinding, Sanchaba Sulay Jobe, Lamin, Serrekunda, Brikama, Soma, Barra, Farafenni, Kaur, Wassu, Janjangbureh, Bansang and Basse.

The Traditional Conference of Chiefs (Mansa Bengo) was dormant for over ten years until it was revived in 2001. It is now proposed that a Mansa Bengo be held every two years to provide a forum for discussion of pertinent state matter by the Chiefs.

4. PLANNED ACTIVITIES

Given the small size of the country, land is becoming a scarce commodity. Therefore its efficient and judicious use is becoming more and more vital. It is for this reason that plans are currently underway to develop policies that would encourage Land Banking. In this process, suitable land in State Land areas would be identified and reserved for future public use, such as for hospitals, schools etc.

In line with the Physical Planning and Development Control mandate of the Department of State, new regulations are being considered to enhance the aesthetic beauty of our urban areas. As a start in this regard, only two-story buildings will henceforth be allowed along the Kombo Coastal Road.

The Department of State is in the process of creating a layout specifically for an incentive to Gambians living abroad. This will encourage Gambians in the Diaspora to invest in the country and eventually return home.