The government’s move to take over McCarthy Square has been justified by Information Minister Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, who has pointed to the Banjul City Council’s (BCC) alleged disregard for the famous national landmark.
“McCarthy Square is in poor condition. The government spent millions of dalasis each time it gained independence to rehabilitate McCarthy Square, a national asset and symbolic infrastructure that had been neglected by the council. In an interview with West Coast Radio, Dr. Ceesay stated, “The government now understands that it is in the best interest of the country to take charge of this very important national structure, to take care of it, and that is what we are doing.”
He underlined that the decision to occupy McCarthy Square was made for the site’s protection and preservation, not for political reasons. “The council neglected it, left it untended, and failed to provide for it.” The government decided it was prudent to take control of it and take care of it because it was simply collapsing and this is a very important national structure and symbolic infrastructure. “This has nothing to do with politics,” Dr. Ceesay stated on West Coast Radio.
According to a recent article in the Standard Newspaper, the Office of the President has chosen to assume control of McCarthy Square, which was previously under the BCC’s purview. A letter signed by the secretary to the cabinet informed the council of the decision.
