Former Councilor of Nyambai Ward, Pa Manneh, has called on the #Occupy BAC# Protesters to follow the proper procedure of dialogue rather resorting to unnecessary protest.
Writing on his Facebook page, Manneh said the following: “occupy Westfield, occupy Boxba, occupy BAC, –These are beautiful jargons but what connection, effect or impact do jargons have positively directly or indirectly on society? important to note.”
He added: “Anyway i want to deal with that of occupy Brikama Area Council (BAC). Even though i know for certain that there is a hidden agenda but they said their motive is political and are just concern about their tax money. But unfortunately they are on a wrong guidance and footing.”
Manneh said, “let me guide you, you must first of all try to know whether you have a functional Village Development Committee and that of a functional VDC which is not the duty of either the chairman or any other member of council but your own elected councilors.”
He urged the organised of the protest to try to know either from council which is always possible or through their councilor what’s the annual estimated income expected to be collected by council and actually how much has been collected and how much is not been collected or what are the constraints both from the tax payers and the collectors and what is council’s expenditure on what they may know and may not know.
He noted if they are not satisfied, they can summon the councilors to a town hall or a community Bantaba and lodge their complaints because they are their direct representatives to council.
“If you not satisfied with the community Bantaba, form a delegation and ask your councilor to lead you to council for further clarification. If you are not still not satisfied, organise yourself as concern citizens, write all your concerns in a petition form, inform council formerly that you’re coming to present a petition, inform the press if you like and peacefully match to the council ground, make speeches and deliver your petition, shake hands if possible make some hugging and go home and wait for response,” he urged
He further challenged the organised to assess themselves and their environment and see what they can do positively for their community rather than relying completely on what council can do, adding that further actions could still be considered in accordance with the rule of law if one is still not satisfied.”