New KMC Mayor speaks

“My first priority is to put an emphasis on the cleansing of the municipality. If you look at what is happening [in KMC], you’ll realize that refuse management has became a recurrent problem for the municipality. We will do everything possible to remedy this situation in order to turn the municipality into an environmentally friendly area.” These were the words of the newly appointed Acting Mayor of the Kanifing Municipality, Yankuba Colley in an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer at his office, last evening.

According to him, the cleansing service department of the KMC was unable to collect refuse from people’s compounds due to the unavailability of transport. This situation, he said, resulted to the emergence of spontaneous and illegal dumpsites, causing ipso facto health hazards for the public.

“But we will strive hard to ensure that we put in a robust refuse collection system,” he revealed in an optimistic tone.

Quizzed on how he intends to go on with such undertakings as it would require a lot of financial resources to procure the necessary vehicles needed for the exercise, Acting Mayor Colley replied: “I think it will be premature for me to unveil the big plans that we intend to implement”.

Asked what he plans to do with the overstaffing at KMC, a phenomenon which is affecting the smooth running of local councils in the whole country, the KMC boss revealed that the council has already contracted the Personnel Management Office (PMO) to conduct a staff audit exercise.

“They [PMO] have already sent us a draft of the audit exercise and we are waiting for the final report. That is to say that we are ready to act according to the recommendations of the report,” he indicated.

On the need to rehabilitate minor roads within the municipality, which are currently in dilapidated conditions, thus generating a lot of criticism for the council, Mayor Colley said: “Now councils have little to do with roads as the National Roads Authority is now established. So we don’t want people to shift the blame on the council.

We will give our support in areas we think necessary.  Mayor Colley revealed that he is not scared at all about occupying the KMC mayoral hot seat.

“You know why? I remember my first time at council when I contested for the post of Deputy Mayor. I was not fairly treated leading to my defeat. Since then, I continued to work hard for my party [APRC], my municipality and ward until my fellow councilors voted for me to become the Deputy Mayor,” he said.

He went on to say that as a Muslim he believes in the will of the Almighty Allah and whatever he destines for him shall surely happen.

“In essence, I have faith and will do everything possible to live up to expectation. But I must thank the President for choosing me among the lot. I know it is a challenge and I need the cooperation of all to make the municipality the best,” he concluded.

It could be recalled that Yankuba Colley was appointed as acting Mayor of the KMC last Friday, thus replacing Alieu Momar Njie who was removed from his post. Before his new portfolio, Mr Colley served as Deputy Mayor of KMC for over two years. He was also the elected councilor for Tallinding Ward since April 2002.