By Adama Makasuba
Opposition party, Citizens’ Alliance has held talks between youths of Sanyang village and the police in a bid to find a lasting solution to the last week’s incident which ensued as a result of brutal killing of Gibril Ceesay, a native of the village.
The killing sparked the residents’ anger as they burnt down the police station and Gambian-based Mauritanian fishmeal plant, properties, vehicles and as well looting from the fish plant.
Police had arrested 50 suspected youths for the act of vandalism during the protest while 22 22 were charged with arson and rioting and appeared before Brikama Magistrate Court. Though, they were released in detention by presiding magistrate, as reported by one of the local media.
Speaking at the news conference on Thursday, Dr Ismaila Ceesay, CA leader, said: “we have reached out to the family of Gibril Ceesay and sent our condolences and shared with them the grief. And we held discussion with youths in Sanyang and the police in order to find a solution to the issue.”
He noted that “The Gambia is hard because youths have no jobs they are sitting at homes, basic food is expensive, this ranging from rice to oil. Cost for renting is also expensive and youths have no job, even those that are the working class are finding it very hard to pay their rent fees.”
He urged the government to endeavour in creating more job opportunities for the youths through creating life skill training centres across the country as this will help reduce the growing frustration in the public.
Despite frowning at the burning down of the police station and the fishmeal plant, Dr Ceesay renewed his advice for the Barrow-led administration to create job chances for youth.