Gambian Councillor meets Leeds Lord Mayor

On Monday 16 September, a Councillor from The Gambia met the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Eileen Taylor, at the Civic Hall. Councillor Sainey Kanuteh from Basse Area council was welcomed by Councillor Mohammad Iqbal (Hunslet & Riverside Ward) who led the delegation including Assan Jaiteh, Ajie Fatou Jeng Secka (Phaatu Food Republic), Sarata Sawo, Lolly Sawo and myself into the Lord Mayor’s office.

Basse is situation at the Eastern part of The Gambia and it’s the country’s second capital; administrative capital of Upper River Region and a thriving business centre linking with the neighbouring Senegal and beyond.

Councillor Kanuteh brought with him greetings from the Smiling Coast, as The Gambia is known. He congratulated the Lord Mayor on her recent historic appointment as the first black mayor of the city. He also expressed his gratitude to Leeds City Council for the warm welcome accorded to him and his friends who accompanied him to the council and thanked the council on behalf of the Gambian citizens living in Leeds, to whom Leeds is now their home.

Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Eileen Taylor with Councillor Sainey Kanuteh from Basse in the Gambia

Leeds City Council has always been supportive to the Gambian community in Leeds and the city has a large presence of people from the Basse region so meeting the Lord Mayor was instrumental and monumental in showing appreciation to the leadership of the council.

Councillor Kanuteh said:

“My visit to your lordship the Lord Mayor of Leeds City Council was a red letter one from all angles.

“A warm reception was accorded, and I use that medium to thank her lordship and council for beautifully taken care of our Basse native’s and Gambians in a broader picture here in Leeds.”

During the meeting methods of revenue collection were discussed – Basse area Council methods of revenue collection differ remarkably from the Leeds City Council. Basse operates a manual system where collection solely relies on the mercy of collectors assigned this task, whereas Leeds operates electronic system with no cash handling, removing any risk of corruption.

The Lord Mayor also highlighted the work Leeds City Council is undertaking for example investing in community projects, good governance, social housing, schools, recreational parks and healthcare. Councillor Kanuteh was hugely impressed with the work Leeds City Council is doing and hoped to implement these good practices when he returned to Basse.

Also discussed was dedication, management of time and ways of increasing revenue collection and waste management and Councillor Kanuteh is looking forward to implementing them when he returned.

 

This post was written by Yanks Sawo

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