During a town hall meeting in Bijilo, Gambia, Public Service Minister Hon. Baboucarr Bouy announced a significant increase in civil service salaries and allowances. The move, which includes a 30% increase in aggregate salary and 100% and 105% increases in transport and residential allowances respectively, is aimed at retaining professional personnel within the Civil Service. The minister expressed optimism that the salary increase will help to address the loss of over 200 civil servants to parastatals and the private sector in the past two years.