Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday heard testimony from Peter Vanslanbrouch, a Belgian national and former project coordinator for the CityLink Ostend-Banjul partnership. His appearance is part of the Commission’s ongoing investigations into the financial and administrative practices of local councils across The Gambia between 2018 and 2023.

Led in his testimony by Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez, Vanslanbrouch detailed his role as the liaison appointed by the Ostend City Council to manage its collaborative efforts with the Banjul City Council (BCC) under a European Union-funded urban development initiative.

Officially launched in December 2019 and fully operational by March 2020, the project centered on five key pillars: institutional capacity building, waste management, urban greening, the rehabilitation of the former Crab Island School, and public health research focusing on burn treatment and hygiene.

Vanslanbrouch explained that the project’s origins lay in consultations and concept development that began in 2018, with the EU subsequently approving a €3 million grant for its implementation. Ostend committed €150,000 in co-funding, while BCC pledged €7,805. He noted that Ostend ultimately exceeded its initial contribution due to a no-cost extension, though he could not provide the final total without access to the relevant records.

Addressing the matter of financial oversight, Vanslanbrouch stated that BCC initially managed expenditures independently.

However, this arrangement changed following disputes over spending decisions, including the council’s allocation of project funds for flood relief in Tobacco Road—an action he clarified was outside the project’s approved scope.

Consequently, Ostend implemented stricter controls, mandating that payments exceeding a specific threshold require approval via EcoBank’s digital system by Jonas Scharrens, the project’s designated financial signatory.

Vanslanbrouch described this measure as a crucial safeguard to ensure compliance with EU regulations.

Procurement processes also underwent changes. Initially adhering to stringent EU guidelines, the project later transitioned to The Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) framework to foster local capacity building.

Vanslanbrouch asserted that major procurements followed applicable rules but indicated he would need to review records to confirm specific details. He committed to submitting the relevant audit and financial reports to the Commission.

The inquiry also delved into governance structures. Vanslanbrouch described a steering committee that evolved in its composition over time. When questioned about allegations of the committee taking loans from project funds, he confirmed learning of the matter retrospectively. “Loans are not permissible under EU funding guidelines,” he emphasized.

Despite facing operational challenges, Vanslanbrouch highlighted several notable achievements. The reforestation of Banjul’s beachfront was cited as a significant success, as was the transformation of the dilapidated Crab Island School into a modern educational facility.

Scholarship and health programs were also successfully implemented under the initiative. Nevertheless, persistent challenges remained, particularly in the areas of waste management and institutional development. “BCC remains a very weak institution. Capacity building was critical, and we had hoped to achieve more,” he stated.

Responding to a question from Commissioner Silla, Vanslanbrouch confirmed that two garbage trucks procured through the project—a compactor and a skip truck—were still operational, with one observed working just the day before the hearing.

In conclusion, Vanslanbrouch pledged to provide the Commission with comprehensive financial, audit, and monitoring documentation covering the project’s entire five-year implementation period. The Commission is expected to meticulously review these records as it continues its evaluation of transparency and accountability in development initiatives managed by local councils.