By Aisha Tamba
Vice President Isatou Touray has urged officials in The Gambia’s civil service to change their attitudes in handling institutional properties, notably vehicles.
She made this call at Kairaba Hotel last week during the handing-over of nine vehicles (five Toyota Prados and four pick-up trucks) donated by the World Bank.
The vice president stated: “It is important in a democracy, we strengthen institutions so that they will be able to take up their responsibilities. People come and go but institutions will always remain and it is what we leave in those institutions; the policies, the procedures and the best practices people will inherit. I want to show my appreciation for the dividends democracy has brought to The Gambia. I want to urge the whole population to promote peace and stability.
“Our attitude to work must change; our attitude to how we manage institutional materials or equipment or properties must change, because they are to facilitate our work and make us deliver. They are not our personal property, they are to facilitate the work that we are going to do efficiently so that we make the impact that is needed for the people. We know that it is not possible to do social protection work or to conduct a campaign without going round or without reaching out to people or without coming on time.”
She admonished those given the vehicle not to see them as their personal properties, but as privileges that their offices deserved for them to be able to do their work efficiently.
“We have have been left behind, but we can catch up within the shortest possible time, I have that belief,” she exhorted.
She said it is only through respect for competence that The Gambia will move forward and thanked the World Bank.