By: Kemo Kanyi
As dispute continues between the Alkalo recommended Village Development Committee and the Brikama Area Council (BAC) backed VDC which has halted all sand mining activities in the village, the coastal settlement of West Coast Region (WCR) have converged at the village to resolve the ‘’menace’’ surrounding sand mining in the community that is under an embargo for more than a year.
According to speakers at the village meeting, said charges levied on truck drivers who transport sand out of Kartong have since stopped resulting to sporadic supply of water to the people of the community, noting that each truck that transport sand from the mines pays an amount of D300 to the community that is used to fund cash power expenses for the village water supply system.
During a sideline interview with Musa F. Manneh, youth representative of the village said the meeting is expected to address the concerns of the people of Kartong in accessing the right to mine sand within the community that is under an embargo.
‘’Our desire is to place this mining powers in the hands of the Alkalo and the Council of Elders who are representatives from the various Kabilos in the village until at a time when the issue of the VDC is resolve at the court. Now that the villagers agreed to handover the sand mining powers to the Alkalo and his Council of Elders, it’s about time for all to rally behind them so as to address our collective challenges to accessing sand for our various development works,’’ he told The Voice at the village Bantaba on Sunday.
He acknowledged that the villagers are aware of the fact that their agreement to surrender these powers to the Alkalo and his Council cannot be effected without getting the approval from the Geology Department and called on everyone to continue honouring the embargo until the approval is granted to start any sand mining in the village again by the responsible authorities.
Alieu Jabang, also a youth leader expressed his concern relative to the embargo placed on sand mining within the community, revealing that many development projects are at standstill or progressing at snail pace due to high cost attached to bringing sand to Kartong.
Alhagie Bojang, a representative of truck drivers recounted some of the challenges experience by the truck drivers leading to the imposition of the sand mining embargo.
‘’The problems started erupting when drivers refused to pay monies to a faction of the VDC recognised by the Brikama Area Council, that resorted to reporting drivers to either Gunjur Police Station or to the Police Commissioner based at Banjulinding. Truck Drivers who works at Kartong sand mining site never paid physical money to the Alkalo and Elders backed VDC but rather buy cash power for the village water supply system, we collect at least D10, 000.00 on monthly basis,’’ he explained.
Other speakers expressed similar sentiments and call on the village Alkalo and Council of Elders to immediately engage the Geology Department and relay the concerns of the village in getting the formal approval to control sand mining in Kartong.