GAMBIAN NEWS ARTICLES

Here are links to two more Gambian news articles describing the state of the ferry service between Banjul and Barra, and the current fuel shortage. (If you find the links do not work, please copy and paste them in to your browser.)


Ferry lost at sea for six hours
or
http://kibaaro.com/banjul-barra-ferry-lost-at-sea-for-6-hours/

Fuel shortage in Gambia
or

http://kibaaro.com/acute-fuel-shortage-slows-down-gambian-motorists/

For readers unfamiliar with HELPING's activities, the reason the ferry service is of such concern is that tourist accommodation is only available in the Senegambia resort areas on the South bank of the river, whereas all of HELPING's projects are on the North bank where the poorest communities are to be found.  Our charity's founders, Chris and Margaret Meeks, make an extended visit each year between January and March to oversee the projects, carry out research and implement decisions made by the committee.  They are in Gambia at present but are being severely hampered by the inadequacies of the ferry service as they need to be able to cross the river safely on a regular basis without wasting hours waiting for ferries.

LATEST NEWS ON CHRIS & MARGARET'S VISIT TO GAMBIA

Chris & Margaret safely back in Senegambia

After being uncontactable for several days, we have just heard from Chris and Margaret that they are safely back on the South Bank in their base hotel.  

As previously reported on the blog, the ferry service across the river has deteriorated to such an extent that crossings can now take several hours with a wait to board of half a day or more, even without a vehicle.

Chris and Margaret keep in regular contact with their son Roy Richardson and daughter Lisa Osborne, but neither had had any contact for several days and were assuming their parents were stranded on the North Bank without phone signal.  

We still don't know exactly what happened to detain them on the north side as the power supply failed during their phone call home before they had chance to tell the full story.  Suffice to say they are both safe, albeit exhausted.

This experience highlights the need for HELPING'S own accommodation North of the river, a project which is now under way and progressing well. 

For reference, we have included the following two reports from Gambian newspapers which Roy found online:

FERRY DISASTER IN THE GAMBIA IN THE WAITING!

FERRY DISASTER IN THE GAMBIA IN THE WAITING!

By A Concerned Gambian

Pa, I just read on your paper today about the ferry problem in the Gambia.

I left Banjul two days ago for a two weeks visit. I boarded the ferry on the day I was coming back, but we were lucky to survive that day. I got to Banjul 9 am in the morning, by then, the so called first ferry that day, "Johe" had left Banjul heading to Barra and I boarded the "Kanilie" which left around 9:15 am. The first ferry "Johe" had an engine failure about half way to Barra and was about to sink, the second ferry "Kanilie" had to rescue them both ferries were over loaded and they tied "Johe " to Kanilie and headed to Barra.

We were in the water for about 4 hours before we reach Barra. Old men and women were crying and praying for their life. It was the worst thing I have ever seen in my life. The ferries are dirty and trash laying around everywhere and nobody cares. 

Banjul—Barra Ferry Problem Compounded

KANILAI STUCK AT SEA FOR 3 DAYS

By Bagimang Sane

Ferry services at Banjul-Barra ferry terminal continue to be a source of nightmare for commuters in recent time.

The ferries’ awful services became more disturbing when  one of the fleets (Kannilai) stuck at high seas for three days. The unfortunate development, which occurred on Sunday, left many commuters stranded on either side of the crossing points where they spent nights.

It could be recalled that it was only last week when one of the Banjul-Barra ferries was lost at sea for six hours due to mechanical failures.

However, this latest development was due to low tide which caused the vessel to have difficulty to anchor at Barra end. Sources informed that ferry engineers were at hand to artificially drench the harbor in order to enable the stuck ferry to anchor.

Commuters resorted to using canoes to get to either side of the crossing point. The high demand for canoes led to the spiraling of its fares beyond the reach of scores of low income passengers. A single trip to either side of the riverbank cost D35. Canoe fare increased from D15 to D25, while the price of lifting one to avoid being wet shifted from D5 to D10, cumulatively summed to D35 per passenger for a single voyage.

A lady who attended a religious gathering [Gamo] at Baddibu Sallikenni on board her private car came all the way to Barra only to drive back to Farafenni to cross at Yelli Tenda—Bamba Tenda crossing point to reach to her destination in the Kombos.  Other commuters who are hydrophobic to use small canoes had to spend night at Barra to continue the struggle of crossing the following day.

Despite all these developments about the safety of the ferries, management of Gambia Ferry Services remain tight-lip, while passengers continue to express worries and frustration about their safety.