By Saidou Baldeh
Abdoulie Hydara, director general Gambia Tourism Board, has revealed that S&J Properties and Darboe Jula’s Estate Agency in Sanyang are affected and EJ Investment’s property in Sanyang is not within tourism development area (TDA).
In recent press release, GTBoard stated that EJ Investment, S&J Properties and Darboe Jula were selling landed properties in the Tourism Development Area, namely in Tanji, Batokunku, Tujereng, Kartong and Sanyang.
Hydara also revealed that the only EJ Investment property affected is the one in Tujereng, stressing all the Real Estate Agency who illegally bought lands within the TDA will not be given the opportunity in the area again “even if they are going to build tourism related structures.”
He added: “If they are serious investors they would have followed due process. They had all the opportunity to do that but they refused. They are Gambians nobody will stop them from acquiring lands in this country. But it has to be through due process,” he asserted.”
He also challenged EJ Investment over documentation questioning whether EJ Investment has the right documents.
In same development, GTBoard is accused of collaborating with Construct Limited for constructing water front residences and apartments on EJ Investments properties in Tujereng.
According to source, GTBoard officials namely Abdoulie Hydara and Fatou Beyai engaging in business with business with Turkish Real Estate Agency and Indian Real Estate Agency based in the Gambia to help them get the sea front strategic locations.
Reacting to the allegations, Hydara said the GTBoard has no plans to transfer the said properties to Construct Limited or any other company.
“That is not true. The GTBoard is a very responsible government institution. We will never involve in something that is unlawful. That will not happen under my watch. No Construct Limited or whatsoever will build non-tourism related structures in the TDA. The people of Tujereng deserve to have developments like that of Senegambia,” he pointed out.
He added: “If I was able to take back all the lands that Yahya Jammeh has taken, who is EJ Investment. People have to accept that this country is governed by law and anything one is doing should be guided by the dictates of the constitution.”
When contacted by this reporter yesterday at his office in Kanifing regarding the issue, Fara Shams, managing director of Construct Limited said that: “I don’t know really what is going on from different parties but all I know that we have a PPP Project, Public Private Partnership with the government of The Gambia with The Gambia Tourism Board which we have develop a water front residence which is a very highly regarded development for Gambia”.
Regarding Construct Limited building apartments on EJ Investments properties, he said is completely false and unfounded allegations, noting that if EJ Investments have their issues with GTBoard or communities who sold lands to them, let them go and settle it with them.