More safety concerns raised at Gambia’s industrial zones
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Regional Integration, Mod K Ceesay, has called for urgent reforms in the management and planning of industrial parks, warning that failure to act now could expose the country to industrial accidents, environmental hazards and the loss of thousands of potential jobs.
Speaking at the close of a four-day nationwide tour of industrial sites and economic zones with members of the National Assembly committee and officials of the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA), the minister said many of the country’s industrial estates have drifted away from their original purpose because of poor planning and weak coordination.
He said, unlike properly developed industrial parks, many existing sites were allocated without a developer responsible for roads, water, electricity and other common facilities, leading to unplanned growth.
“We have a serious matter in our hands, and as a country, as a government, and as a people, we have to do serious rectification. We have no choice,” the minister said.
He pointed to industrial areas where residential houses, warehouses and illegal settlements now exist alongside factories, warning that such developments increase safety risks and reduce opportunities for industrial production and employment.
“People cannot be allowed to live in the midst of an industrial zone. People cannot be allowed to use factory spaces and convert them into warehouses we want the jobs,” he stressed.
The minister said warehouses create very few jobs compared to factories, adding that industrial parks should be planned to maximise employment and economic growth.
He also warned against allowing food factories, chemical plants and other incompatible industries to operate side by side, saying proper zoning is essential to protect public health and prevent future disasters.
“If we make errors in some of these things, it can cost lives,” he said, urging greater public awareness and stronger collaboration among government institutions.
The minister said government, Parliament and the Judiciary must work together to support the difficult but necessary reforms needed to restore order in industrial estates before the situation becomes worse.
Members of the committee also raised concerns about industrial lands being converted into residential areas and warehouses, questioning whether land allocations and environmental safeguards were being properly enforced.
The committee chair Hon Kebba Jallow, described the findings as a nightmare, warning that residential developments inside industrial zones could expose people to chemical and industrial hazards.
He said the proposed amendments championed by GIEPA would strengthen the management of industrial and economic zones and called on lawmakers to support the bill.
“I think it’s better we pass the amendment bill so we can follow the right channel of constructing our industries,” he said.
The chair thanked the Ministry of Trade, GIEPA, committee members, parliamentary staff and the media for their participation throughout the four-day inspection tour, saying the visit had provided lawmakers with a clearer understanding of the challenges facing the country’s industrial sector.
Source: The Point
