Gambia Ports Authority Managing Director Ousman Jobarteh has addressed calls for him to be handed the sack over the Kanilai ferry incident telling The Fatu Network: ‘we’re alive to our responsibility’.
“We’re alive to our responsibility and we try to do our utmost to be of service to our public,” Mr Jobarteh told The Fatu Network in an exclusively interview.
The Kanilai ferry late on Monday evening ran into trouble shortly after leaving Barra sparking huge panic among passengers. The ferry apparently developed technical issues.
“It happened that around 9:40pm, Kanilai loaded from Barra bound for Banjul and during the the voyage she developed technical problem, one of the engines that controls steering and the propulsion system, there was a shutdown in that system and the ferry could not steer on her own,” Mr Jobarteh said.
At least 150 people were onboard the ferry, some of whom have demanded the sacking of the Ports officials.
The authority’s MD however said the appointing authorities are aware of the problems his institution is facing.
“Well certainly we can only make known our challenges and the contraints that we’re facing as an organisation. But the appointing authorities are also being adequately briefed because we have a risk assessment policy which would identify all the challenges we face as an institution.
“Because trade is booming but the facility is not growing commensurately and some of the spare parts and the equipment we need are not within our direct control,” Mr Jobarteh said.
