By: Kemo Kanyi
Momodou Sabally, Special Adviser to the President, has alleged that Local Councils under the leadership of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) do not serve the interest of its taxpayers, especially in the Kanifing Municipal Council and West Coast Region, describing it as leadership cruelty against the people in these areas.
The former UDP campaign manager was speaking in a meeting marked by the massive defection of loyalists from opposition (UDP) to the ruling National People’s Party held in Rumba village at the weekend.
The event witnessed defection of over 150 youth from Rumba village, a group of young women from Brikama Gidda led by Lamin Jaiteh. Last week Thursday, the presidential adviser decamped a women group (Kambeng Kafoo) in Brikama Kabafita, who also left the UDP for NPP.
According to the grassroots politician, the Kanifing Municipal Council and Brikama Area Council leaderships’ negligence is what has resulted in separate ‘Sandikas’ fire outbreaks in Brikama and SereKunda, stating that both councils are bent on increasing taxes without giving back its benefits to their taxpayers, describing it as a cruel leadership.
“The fire outbreak in Serekunda market Sandika was caused by an accumulated pile of garbage. Talib Bensouda is increasing the taxes, and he’s not doing his job. He (Talib) is not a serious leader and does not have sympathy for the poor and struggling women of KMC. In Brikama, the fire outbreak at its market Sandika was also negligent by the BAC, as the council failed to provide its duty to the taxpayers- to simply collect the rubbish. The two fire outbreaks were both caused by piles of garbage in the markets,” the respected grassroots politician stated.
Sabally added that such leadership should be taken to court if they increase their taxes because they do not represent the interest of the people.
“Taxation without representation is exactly what Talib Bensouda is doing in KMC, and the same thing is happening in Brikama. Take them to court if they want to unlawfully increase their taxes,” he maintained.
He stated that President Adama Barrow is the only leader who is returning the benefits of taxes to the taxpayers in the country, saying: “he built well-equiped schools, hospitals, standard road infrastructure, bridges and keep counting.”
He urged Gambians to vote for President Barrow in the 2026 presidential elections to continue enjoying the development, peace, and stability brought by President Adama Barrow to citizens and residents of the country.
