For the first time I can remember since 1997, we have had MAJOR service problems in the Senegambia, Kololi and Manjai areas, affecting the supply of water and electricity to the Restaurant and the two houses GTS uses for members.

The Kololi house has now been fully refurnished, with a new cooker and fridge as well as new furniture and kitchen equipment, but we have continued to have accommodation problems because of the water supply and lack of mains power, not only in Kololi but also at Manjai, where Julie went to stay.

In Kololi, Adam's furniture crisis (reported in the previous News item) had caused the initial problem with Rosie and Ang, but even so, they would have had to move because of the water problem. Managing with no Power is one thing, managing with no Water is impossible. When Adam was using the house, a local lady came in and filled containers from the well, but no such system was replaced after he moved out.

In the last week of April, all the materials had been gathered to construct a tower by the Kololi house to hold a water storage container similar to the one we have had to install at the Restaurant, it is now fitted and will provide at least a tank full of mains water each day - as the mains water does come on during the early morning hours from 2 to 6 am.

At Manjai, long standing members Robert and Tina, who are running a boating and fishing business in Gambia have been living at Manjai but just when Julie arrived they had a 5 day fishing excursion and were not at the house, to explain to Julie how to manage when there is NO water and NO electric for days.

Not a pleasant experience, especially when she had a very bad bout of Banjul Belly. Julie understandably got a room for the rest of her stay at the Tafbel just down the road from the GTS Bar and Restaurant and is back teaching at the GTS Bakoteh school.

To cap it all, new members and self professed 'experienced travellers' Roger and Sally arrived just before the tank was fitted and survived a couple of days before leaving to find accommodation away from the area. The lack of power and water were contributing factors but the final straw was being robbed on their way home to Kololi late at night.

THIS RAISES A CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT SECURITY ISSUE

Regular visitors to the GTS site will know that we tell the bad with the good, we report our small disasters when they happen as well as our successes - I strongly believe that it strengthens GTS to openly air any problems as part of the way of finding solutions.

The house at Kololi is described as being secure and it is well protected with a secure verhanda and small private back yard, the compound is properly walled and has proper metal gates. It is as secure as my house in the UK.

I personally feel safer at all times in Gambia than I do in the UK and this feeling is echoed by dozens of GTS members who visit each year.

HOWEVER there are things I wouldn't do in Gambia or in the UK that obviously need spelling out in LARGE LETTERS.

Walking down any un lit road or path at night in any strange URBAN area is not advised anywhere in the world and this is just as true in Gambia as in London, Cardiff or Edinburgh.

In the daylight it is not a problem at all, Gambians may/will approach you and chat, they may ask you for help but like anywhere they are simply not threatening, unless of course you abuse them or if you are threatened by approaching strangers at any time and some people are.

If returning home after dark, take a taxi or use a GTS host to escort you home, the Kololi house is 10 minutes walk from the Senegambia centre so a host will cost you about £1 if you want to walk - taxi prices are variable, but not much more.

PLEASE TAKE HEED OF THIS ADVICE

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