By Yunus S Saliu
Abdoulie Hydara, director general Gambia Tourism Board has denounced media report, saying he has never confirmed or exonerated any estate agent especially EJ investments of not been encroached into tourism development area in Sanyang
He was reacting to articles published in both online and local daily newspapers on May 15, 2019, saying that EJ investments property in Sayang is not within tourism development area (TDA).
Hydara told journalists on Friday, the information contains in the GTBoard’s previous press release published in the daily newspapers and aired on both radio and television stations across the country remains same and unchanged.
He alleged that some media houses had quoted him wrongly from the interview he had with a journalist who had an interview with him.
He reiterated that estate agent such as EJ Investments, Darbo Jula, S & J or any other estate agents have encroached in the Tourism Development Area at Tujereng, Sanyang and Batokunku, adding that this is confirmed in all GTBoard issued press release.
“Wherever any of these estate agents encroached in TDA, they know it, the facts are there and I’m not here to label any estate agent or another of having encroached in a particular cluster within the TDA,” he noted.
According to him, within the TDA, there is limit and anybody or estate agents that might have gone beyond the limit area known it is an encroachment, noting that “if you encroached any part in the area, there is no way you can come to GTBoard for regularization because TDA is not for sale to the public.”
He further stated that he was wrongly ‘quoted’ that he entered an agreement and engaged the service of a company namely; Construct limited by given them a land in Tujereng to build houses.
Hydara stressed that the report is incorrect, saying that “the Gambia Tourism Board never allocated any land to Construct Limited or to another party to develop house(s) or any sort of development, that information is incorrect!”
He urged all media practitioners to always get their facts right before publication especially when it comes to official matters.
Hydara disclosed that there are some philanthropists accusing GTBoard of denying them from bringing developments to the country to establish Islamic Orphanage and Education Center in TDA.
“Establishing an Islamic institute within TDA could be a worst or disadvantage to such Islamic institution and if investors or philanthropists are genuine and want to bring development to the country as they claims they should contact or visit Ministry of Local Government and Lands,” he said.
