By Yunus S Saliu
The Kartong Village Development Committee (VDC) members have reacted to the publication titled ‘Kartong urges dissolved VDC to resign’ published in one of the daily newspapers in the country.
They totally condemned it and described the petitioners’ claim as purported act that is ‘untrue, unfounded and an allegation to mislead people and create disunity in the community.”
The petition as published on Wednesday, 19th August, states that ‘people of Kartong, Kombo South District are calling on their dissolved village development committee (VDC) members to resign,” because “the VDC was dissolved sometime ago (November 10th 2015) by the Brikama Area Council.”
Reacting to this among others is Musa K. Manneh, Chairman Kartong Village Development Committee (VDC) said the petition and the petitioners is false as there is no dissolution of Kartong VDC by area council or any of its representatives that ever take place.
He noted that the VDC he (Musa K Manneh) is leading was instituted in 30th January, 2019 and since the establishment of the VDC “we have never receive any dissolution letter from any area council that we are dissolved.”
According to him, the VDC has been working tirelessly for the progress of the community “and the claim is false news not to only me but to all citizens of this community that read it.”
Prior 2019, “there was a section in the community who did not recognize the VDC until a letter titled “Council Resolution on Kartong Village Development Committee (VD)’ addressed to the Alkalo of Kartong Village by the Brikama Area Council, West Coast Region,” he reflected back.
An excerpt from the letter dated 30th January 2019 states that “After numerous engagements by the Council’s Committee responsible of Village and Ward Development Committee (V and WDC) conflict resolution matters with the Alkalo and the two parties in conflict of Village Development Committee (VDC) authority in Kartong, it has proven beyond all reasonable doubts that the Village Development Committee (VDC) established by the village in accordance with section 92 A of the Local Government Act 2002 and led by Mr Musa K manneh is the committee duly recognized by Council as the legitimate Village Development Committee (VDC) authority.”
The letter he said was signed by Mam Sait Jallow Chief Executive Officer of BAC and was copied to Chairman BAC, Governor West Coast Region, PS Ministry of Lands Regional Governemnt and Religions Affairs, Chairperson Village Development Committee and Conflict Resolution Committee BAC, NAM Kombo South District and Chairperson Kartong Village Development Committee.
The VDC Chairperson explained that the selection of VDC instituted by the area council was done according to the Local Government Act of 2002 and it was made up of representatives from the entire village Kabilos’ wards representative and it is recognized by both council of elders and Alkalo.
“And we have been working in close collaboration with the village authorities, community, duly registered community based organizations and among others in the village,” he stated.
However, Chairman Manneh called on every citizenry of the community to come together to improve the community. “Kartong is a village known for customs and traditions and a village that we are all related, I therefore appeal to everyone from this village to unite for the progress of Kartong and make sure that we work as one community for the progress of Kartong village,” he appealed.
Alhaji Demba Jabang, Alkalo of Kartong village who has being in community service for over 35 years refuted the claim saying “there is nothing like dissolve or dissolution of VDC of Kartong and I have never heard anyone making complain or receive any query about the VDC.”
He said in everything, Kartong is known for its customs and traditions “age sect comes and goes and we all standby our customs and traditions which has been passed down to us. Let’s remain as one people, observe our tradition as one community also what we found from our community elders and stop been divided in the line of politics or whatsoever,” he advised.
Kanjura Touray among lots of other affirmed that the statement of the dissolution made by the unknown petitioner(s) and published in the media is untrue and this came to the notice of everyone just as fairy news.
