By: Kemo Kanyi
The Deputy Spokesperson of the National People’s Party (NPP), Seedy S.K. Njie, has explained the rationale behind the ‘Operation Clear The Roads’ initiative, which saw the central government clear structures that encroached on public roads.
He stated that the operation was geared towards national development and should not be politicized by anyone.
The Chief of Brikama North, Lamin Mondo Jatta, claimed that the opposition is using the ‘Operation Clear The Roads’ as a political tool to advance their agenda against the government, adding that the opposition is trying to make people believe that the President is not sensitive to their plight. The Brikama North chief was concerned that this may jeopardize NPP’s electoral prospects in the area, urging for rescinding of the decision in some areas affected by the operation.
Reacting to this, Njie said the President and his party can never target and suppress vulnerable families by destroying their livelihoods, explaining that the operation aims to demolish structures that encroached into the public roads. He pointed out that the safety of the structure owners was also uppermost in mind during the operations.
The deputy House Speaker maintained that whenever the President plans to construct roads within the Kombos, everyone witnesses the demolition of canteens, shops and other structures close to the development areas to create more space for the infrastructure.
According to him, the authorities provide compensation for anyone whose structures may be affected before any demolition exercise is effected.
“The aim of the ‘Operation Clear the Roads’ is to demolish structures that are erected on the public highways that are not legally authorized. The President does not want to see any women suffering. This is one of the reasons he is constructing and expanding the roads and equipping hospitals. He is doing all these for women and the youth of the country. The President and NPP consider the plight and interest of women in this exercise, especially the market vendors. The reason why the president and the NPP government embark on this road clearing exercise is to realise the advancement of women and youth of The Gambia,” he told a political rally held in the Kombo South village of Rumba over the weekend.
The deputy NPP spokesperson challenged the local governments to strategize market construction for safety of women and youth who are earning their living from the markets, stating that they [vendors] are paying taxes and duties for their plights to be looked into by the responsible authorities.
