Mauritanian Leader Visits GPA, Tanji Community Fisheries Centre

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Sheriff Janko

1 June 2011

The president of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Tuesday visited the facilities at The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) in Banjul and the Tanji Community Fishing Centre in Tanji village, Kombo South.

At GPA, His Excellency Muhammed Ould Abdel Azziz was received at the GPA premises by the vice president and minister of Women’s Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, Cabinets ministers, security chiefs and senior government officials among others. The visiting Mauritania leader and entourage, who arrived in the country Monday on a four-day state visit, were later led on a conducted tour of the port’s facilities by the officials of GPA accompanied by VP Njie-Saidy and other government officials.

Speaking at a brief ceremony, Mustapha B Colley, the chairman of the Board of Directors of GPA, on behalf of the entire management and staff of GPA welcomed the Mauritanian leader to the port. He stated that Gambia-Mauritania ties date back to several decades and encompasses socio-economic, political cultural and religious ties. He added: “In The Gambia, this is evidenced by the presence of a large populace of Mauritanians who are mostly involved in trade and other economic activities in the country. The Gambia Ports Authority serves as the main gateway for entry of most traded goods. Hence, the contribution of Mauritanian compatriots to the core values of the port of Banjul is indeed great and your presence here today manifests it.”

The GPA board chair recognised the call by the Gambian leader for the maintenance of peace not only in The Gambia, but in the sub-region at large and beyond, as it is the only way to ensure the sustainable development of nations. He averred that the visit to The Gambia by the Mauritanian leader will not only cement the political, social and economic ties between the two countries, but will also serve as a positive step towards continental unification, as is happening elsewhere in the world where economic and political blocks are being built and consolidated to enhance trade for the socio-economic wellbeing of the citizenry.

Colley continued: “As The Gambia strives to be a trading hub in the sub-region, GPA is complementing these efforts of the government by ensuring high operational efficiency and working hard towards achieving these goals. Your visit therefore is very important because we believe that the survival of our ports and its positive contribution towards the eradication of poverty in our respective countries can only be achieved if collective efforts are made to remove trade barriers within the West Africa sub-region and Africa in general, to allow for free movement of people, goods and services.”

While maintaining that the private sector is the engine of economic growth of any country, Colley further noted that for the sector to achieve its ideal goals, there must exist an efficient port system to effectively handle both imports and exports, a port system that serves as lubricant for the smooth operation of the private engine. He said that as maritime nations, both Mauritania and The Gambia must share information and best practices and forge closer ties at bilateral and multilateral levels in the area of transportation of goods as well as work towards the reduction of dependence on foreign ship owners.

For his part, the managing director of GPA, Abdoulie Tambedou explained that GPA was established in 1972 as the government agency responsible for shipping. He described [Banjul Port] as a young and small port with a lot of difference. “It is progressively becoming a hub and spoke ports for the trans-shipment of cargo within the Ecowas region, which has a market value of US$ 40 billion. The ports mission statement is to become a centre for maritime excellence, trade logistics and distribution,” he stated. He further stated that GPA is one of the most effective in the sub-region in terms of lay time, demurrage charges and fast-track paper documentation for the quick discharging and distribution of goods to consumers.

Tambedou stressed that for Gambia’s ports to be competitive like others elsewhere, there is need to invest in capacity building of the human resources, infrastructures and equipment. He recalled that in 2008, the GPA signed an agreement for cooperation with Le Port Autonome de Nouakchott dit “Port De L’Amitie. The GPA MD also dilated on the importance of the maritime sector in the development of the two countries and the continent at large, further stressing that the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and The Gambia have been partners in development for many years. “At the bilateral level, both countries share common economic and religious values and at the political level, both countries have been supportive to each other at international fora. We do hope these relationship will be further consolidated and grow from strength to strength,” he added. He then used the opportunity to thank the Gambian leader for what he described as his foresight in maintaining a peaceful and enabling environment, which has made The Gambia a bastion of peace in the sub-region.

Tanji Fishing centre

Meanwhile, President Abdel Aziz and delegation also visited the Coastal village of Tanji, Kombo South District of West Coast Region ,where he inspected the multi-million dollar Tanji Community Fisheries Centre. The Centre, which was inaugurated in 2001 by the Gambian leader, is a grant-in-aid to the tune of US$ 4.5 million from the government of Japan to The Gambia. According to officials, the Centre is the busiest artisanal fish landing site along the country’s coast as many inhabitants of the village are engaged in fishing, fish processing (smoking and drying), fish marketing and other related activities as their means of livelihoods.

Explaining the scope of the facility, the chairman of the Brikama Area Council (BAC) Sunkary Badjie informed the visiting officials that the Centre has the following components : an ice plant with capacity to produce 10 tons of flake ice per day, a chill room with 10 tons loading capacity at temperature between 3-5 degrees centigrade, three refrigerated trucks, five fibre glass canoes with nets, outboard engine and accessories among others. Badjie told the gathering that the government of The Gambia is determined to ensure that all fishing landing sites are provided with the necessary infrastructure for fish processing, equipment and machinery, means of fish distribution and marketing throughout the country.

He continued: “The primary objective of the Centre is to enhance food security, create employment opportunities as well as to improve livelihoods and alleviate poverty. Fish production in the artisanal fishery sub-sector is increasing, especially the pelagic species, and post-harvest losses have been decreasing because substantial quantities of ice and adequate cold storage facilities are presently available in these communities fishing centers. “The Centre is playing a pivotal role in providing fish for the upcountry marketing and supplying to fish processing factories for exports. The women of the village and surrounding villages are very active in the operation of the Centre, mainly as fish unloaders, processors and vendors. A considerable number of the smoked fish is consumed locally and exports are processed by them.”

Badjie disclosed that about 35 people are employed at the Centre, while an estimated number of 2000 people are engaged in various activities linked to the Centre. He also explained that the Centre is managed by the community members in collaboration with the Fisheries Department within the framework of a co-management system. The visiting Mauritanian leader and delegation were later led on a conducted tour of the Centre.

AllAfrica – All the Time