 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
toubab1020
12311 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Sep 2011 : 00:22:43
|
"Hon. Bah said the generators purchased under the REP were made with high technology and they (NAWEC) “know when you have such type of equipment you should endeavour to have qualified people who can maintenance them.
“If you give these high technology machines to somebody who doesn’t even know how to operate a computer and you want him to operate those generators very well, it will not work.”
The outspoken APRC candidate said his findings on NAWEC have revealed that the sole and only electricity supplier in the country “doesn’t even have” generator maintenance expert."
Very clear,management problem,fiddling by unqualified staff,all an engine wants (just like a human ) is clean and fresh things,clean fuel, clean air to breath and to make decisions on (it's ) his own in the generators case everything is done automatically and it will run for years,especially without Gambian "maintenance ".
http://dailynews.gm/africa/gambia/article/nawec-spends-millions-of-gambian-taxpayers-money-in-vain
NAWEC Spends Millions of Gambian Taxpayers’ Money In Vain’
Monday, September 12, 2011
A huge amount of Gambian taxpayers’ money spent by the National Water and Electricity Company on the Rural Electrification Project (REP) seems to have gone down the drain as most of the generators are damaged due to poor maintenance, says Basse National Assembly Member.
“Millions of dalasi or dollars [spent on the REP] have gone in vain,” Hon. Bah said while seconding three motions tabled before parliament by the Minister of Finance on Tuesday during a half-day long extra-ordinary meeting of the National Assembly in the 2011 legislative session.
The total cost of the REP was estimated at US$22.3 million of which $19 million (GMD 190 million) is to be externally funded by the African Development Bank, BADEA and the Islamic Development Bank. The remaining amount is to be funded locally by NAWEC in local currency - the Dalasi.
The project “has started to suffer” because most of the generators that were bought during the inauguration of the project have all been damaged, Hon. Bah said while citing his constituency, Basse, as one of the areas where the project has failed.
“Honestly, Basse is facing real electricity shortage and all of this is because of poor maintenance [of the generators by NAWEC],” he intimated, saying: “It was not even long we borrowed a generator that is now keeping Basse on light.”
Hon. Bah said the generators purchased under the REP were made with high technology and they (NAWEC) “know when you have such type of equipment you should endeavour to have qualified people who can maintenance them.
“If you give these high technology machines to somebody who doesn’t even know how to operate a computer and you want him to operate those generators very well, it will not work.”
The outspoken APRC candidate said his findings on NAWEC have revealed that the sole and only electricity supplier in the country “doesn’t even have” generator maintenance expert.
“I was making my serious finding and I found out that NAWEC doesn’t even have an expert who can even carry out maintenance work on these types of generators. That is why most of their generators would run for sometime and later collapse,” he observed.
The Rural Electrification Project in The Gambia started in 1993, when Electricite de France (EDF) prepared an electrification master plan for the Greater Banjul Area and the rural provinces, which basically envisaged the electrification of towns within 80-km radius.
The project consists of six power stations supported by 11kv transmission systems that it was hoped would form the basis for developing a national grid across The Gambia.
The primary objective of the project, which was to encourage economic growth in The Gambia by providing continuous power supply to 46 towns and villages, is yet to be achieved.
Author: Lamin Jahateh
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2011 : 02:32:02
|
| NEWEC,It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to figure out that what NEWEC needs is to follow India's example and get the technicians and engineers over to train NEWEC maintenance operatives on how to fix the generators. Training is key and should be included in all bids and actualized. Really NEWEC should face a penalty for gross incompetence and wastage of Tax Payers money. |
Peace
Sister Omega |
 |
|
|
toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2011 : 14:34:03
|
Sister O,training is vital I agree ,BUT what is even more vital is a GOOD
, happy ,competent workforce,Indian workforce excellent with GOOOD management, Gambian workforce because Gambian culture is totally different to Indian culture the problems will persist
The administration must accept that because of culture MOST Gambians are unable to
change into top gear that is required in todays world .
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
Edited by - toubab1020 on 13 Sep 2011 14:35:48 |
|
|
|
Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2011 : 02:30:04
|
| Toubab I disagree with your assumption. I think it's important for Gambians to get relevant training necessary to maintain their infrastructure and I would expand that to all emerging economies. There is no reason with relevant screening that NEWEC can't find suitable trainees for paid technicians to teach. All they need to do is think outside of the box. In fact it might not be a bad idea for Gambia to contact some Indian energy firms to find out how they implemented their model. |
Peace
Sister Omega |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
|
|
toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2011 : 12:45:49
|
Sister O,we will never reach an agreement on this.Of course training is essential but in my view Gambian culture is very confused by mechanical things and must fiddle with them, what I would ask you to do is to look at the domestic disasters that have been endemic in relation to equipment and financial deals in the Gambia,management is not good in very many areas of Gambian life ranging from councils to NAWEC.
Jealousy is also a BIG problem within Gambia,whether tribal or "that person has more things or money than me" I must break his things so he is like me,relates to cars, radios,fire engine windscreens, looking glasses for the girls to do their hair,when loaned to a friend they are returned broken,the whole of Gambian society really must get their act together.
How many Gambian shopkeepers are there compared with other peoples who come to Gambia to improve their lives ,not very many,Gambians IN GENERAL are content to let others do the work .
quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega
Toubab I disagree with your assumption. I think it's important for Gambians to get relevant training necessary to maintain their infrastructure and I would expand that to all emerging economies. There is no reason with relevant screening that NEWEC can't find suitable trainees for paid technicians to teach. All they need to do is think outside of the box. In fact it might not be a bad idea for Gambia to contact some Indian energy firms to find out how they implemented their model.
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2011 : 14:05:29
|
FOROYAA Editorial : WHY THE WORSENING OF LOAD SHEDDING
"Taiwan had given the Gambia loans to purchase generators which were received with fanfare. Its banks had given hundreds of millions of dalasis to rehabilitate the transmission lines.
The Government had paid over 27 Million dalasis in 2009 to service the debt on the generators. In 2010 over 27 million was also budgeted to service the debts on the generators. In 2011 over 27 million dalasi is again budgeted for debt servicing towards the generators. Interestingly enough, the power cuts continue unabated.
We have been told that a private company would establish electricity generating sets in Brikama to complement NAWEC’s efforts to ensure efficient and effective delivery of electricity supply. However every time the public is informed that repairs are being effected and that supplies would be regularized the end result is disappointment.
It is necessary for PURA to conduct a thorough investigation into the whole operation of NAWEC,, review its relation with its other suppliers of electricity and identify the problem for the consumers. Millions are being lost by Gambian producers because of irregular electricity supply. The number of generating sets that are being purchased as standby sets will not only increase importation of such sets but is also adding to the pollution in urban centres. Many working mothers rely on their refrigerators to preserve food for cooking and save themselves from going to the market on a daily basis. However if supply of electricity is irregular, food preservation becomes more difficult.
Foroyaa will do a special investigation into the problems of NAWEC with the view to map out a way forward for the company. Higher cost should lead to better service and not the reverse" Foroyaa |
Edited by - kobo on 01 Oct 2011 14:07:02 |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2011 : 14:56:08
|
http://thepoint.gm/_library/2011/1/jallow-s.jpg Source: Picture: Momodou Jallow
THE POINT NEWS NAWEC boss fired
"Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Reliable sources reaching this paper have it that Momodou Jallow, Managing Director of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), was yesterday fired.
Jallow, who was first appointed Managing Director of NAWEC after serving as Director of Finance of the company, in September 2006, is now replaced by Ebrima Sanyang, who was until yesterday, his deputy.
No official reason was known to this paper for his sacking.
Author: Baboucarr Senghore" |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2011 : 15:07:22
|
"No official reason was known to this paper for his sacking."
I think maybe he was not able to do what he was tasked to do because he had no money,still we will never know. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11732 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2011 : 09:07:52
|
| Will the new MD make any difference? Is it not time the president fires himself for the erratic hiring, firing and re-hiring of Managing Directors in many institutions without any official reason to the public? |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2011 : 11:43:34
|
You may well write that,but as a toubab and non Gambian I can not possibly comment 
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
Will the new MD make any difference? Is it not time the president fires himself for the erratic hiring, firing and re-hiring of Managing Directors in many institutions without any official reason to the public?
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2011 : 19:42:54
|
Momodou and Toubab 1020! Your thoughts and concerns shared with; THE DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL NAWEC’s Failure Should Be A Shared Blame
"Wednesday, October 05, 2011
The Point, privately owned Gambian newspaper on Monday reported that the managing director of The Gambia National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has been fired.
As characteristic of our current administration, no reason has been advanced for the abrupt dismissal of NAWEC boss, Mr Momodou Jallow, who was first appointed in 2006, but dismissed later on, before he was re-appointed.
Now, according to the newspaper’s report, the former NAWEC boss is replaced by Mr Ebrima Sanyang, who was until on Monday was Mr Jallow’s deputy.
Indeed, hiring and firing of public officials is a commonplace in today’s Gambia, in particular, at the national and almost sole provider of water, electricity and sewerage services in Gambia, (NAWEC). Yet, the supply of these services have not been bettered. Infact, the situation has been yo-yoing.
While the reason for Mr Jallow’s dismissal is not made public yet, there is every reason for one to suspect that it is connected to the worrying shortfall in the supply of electricity for the past several months in The Gambia.
It must however be noted here that if NAWEC under Mr Jallow couldn’t arrest the problem, the responsibility should not fall on his shoulders alone. The failure of NAWEC should be a shared responsibility.
It is known for a fact that as at 21 June this year, NAWEC owed over two billion dalasis by those key public and private institutions and individuals.
For instance, the office of the president together with eleven ministries owed to NAWEC an exorbitant amount of over thirty-two million, one hundred and twenty thousand dalasi, according to authoritative records. The Ministry of Defence has the highest debt among the lot.
Government-related accounts and parastatals, including the national broadcaster - GRTS, the Green Industries, and the Presidential Villa, also owed to NAWEC over fifty million dalasis. GRTS’ owes over D14, 000,000.
The seven area councils in the country combined owed to NAWEC over one hundred and twenty-five million, three hundred and seventy-six thousand dalasis. Brikama Area Council owes the highest.
Some private institutions and individuals including Amadou Samba, Mustapha Njie, Ocean Bay Hotel, Kanilai Farms, and Taf Constructions Company owed to NAWEC almost eleven million dalasis..
Consequently, NAWEC has incurred an operational loss of more than seven hundred and sixty-one million dalasis between 2008 and 2010, which has impeded the revenue base of the company and continues to affect its operational obligations.
Due to this huge drawback in revenue and the continued rise in debt owed to it, the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) is facing serious difficulties in paying its suppliers.
It is also worth mentioning that NAWEC has taken an initial step to recover the debts by sending a comprehensive list of its debtors to the National Assembly so that the legislators can use its powers to recover in full all debts due and outstanding.
Following this move, the Public Accounts and Public Enterprises committees had scheduled to convene extra-ordinary session on 11th and 12th July in order to put measures in place to help NAWEC recover its debts.
However, a press release from the National Assembly published on 8th July states that the extra-ordinary session has been postponed till further notice. No reason was advanced.
The fundamental question to ask is: How can NAWEC survive when key public and private institutions and individuals fail to pay their huge debt?
Mr Jallow’s sacking should not be used as an excuse in order to cast off a collective blame and to enhance or build a political capital. NAWEC’s failure should be a shared blame!" |
Edited by - kobo on 05 Oct 2011 19:50:32 |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
|
|
toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2011 : 12:24:34
|
| This seemingly accurate article from the online newspaper appears to explain a great many of NAWEC'S present financial problems and the termination of employment of senior figures. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11732 Posts |
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
NAWEC again in the news.
