President Adama Barrow held a joint meeting for Foni Jarrol, Bondali and Kansala at Bulanjorr on 13 October as part of his Meet the People Tour. Addressing the crowd, President Adama Barrow stated, "Foni is part of The Gambia, and every Gambian is equal in my eyes. Whether someone comes from Mankamang Kunda, Kanilai or Sareh Jaliba, I consider them all equal." He added, "If I were to put family ties first, I would have prioritised Jimara." Women's Representative Mansata Sanyang remarked, "Just by looking at this gathering, you can see the difference between Foni yesterday and Foni today." Seyfo of Foni Bintang Karanai Lamin Jobarteh noted, "No one has relieved us of this hardship until President Adama Barrow," adding, "Today, however, I can stand with my head held high."
Infrastructure and Historical Context
Alkalo of Bulanjorr, Wassa Jammeh, detailed the long-standing efforts of the community to secure road infrastructure. Wassa Jammeh stated, "For 30 years, we pursued former President Dawda Jawara because of this road. Then President Yahya Jammeh came to power and ruled for 22 years. We did everything we could." Alkalo of Bulanjorr, Wassa Jammeh, further stated that the community pursued road construction for 30 years under former President Dawda Jawara and 22 years under President Yahya Jammeh. These long-standing efforts reflect the persistent challenges the residents of Bulanjorr faced regarding infrastructure development over the course of those two administrations. The construction of roads remains a primary concern for the local leadership, who have sought improvements through successive leaderships.
Hon. Amie Colley provided data regarding the electrification progress across two districts in Foni. In Foni Berefet, she reported that 29 out of 30 villages now have access to electricity. Hon. Amie Colley reported that in Foni Berefet, 29 out of 30 villages have electricity. Regarding Foni Bintang, Hon. Amie Colley stated that 37 out of 43 villages are connected to the power grid. Hon. Amie Colley reported that in Foni Bintang, 37 out of 43 villages have electricity. These figures represent the current state of rural electrification projects within the districts, noting the reach of the power grid into areas that previously lacked consistent access to energy services.
Minister Hamat Bah addressed the overall development projects initiated by the current administration. He claimed that President Adama Barrow has delivered more roads, electricity, and water in 10 years than previous governments. Minister Hamat Bah claimed President Barrow has delivered more roads, electricity, and water in 10 years than previous governments. This assessment was presented to the attendees at the meeting in Bulanjorr to illustrate the scale of infrastructure investment currently being undertaken by the administration. The focus on these specific utilities—roads, electricity, and water—forms the core of the government's development strategy for the Foni region and beyond.