By: Kemo Kanyi
Chairman of the Brikama Area Council (BAC), Yankuba Darboe, has accused the government of the demolition of structures in Sukuta-Salagi, pointing out that it was “imposition of power” by the actors on vulnerable citizens.
The government of The Gambia has stated that the owners of demolished structures of houses (inhabited and non-inhabited) and compound fences did not posses development permits from the authorities responsible. However, some affected individuals produced evidences of permits issued to them by the authorities (physical planning) during the government organized press conference earlier this month.
Reacting to the demolition in an interview with Kerr Fatou, the BAC Chairman said his view on the matter is that it was a “wrong” decision by the government and imposition of power against the poor and the vulnerable Gambians.
He questioned the government’s acquisition of the areas in which structures are been demolished and its backing of a legal authority.
“How did the government acquire those lands? What we (BAC) know about this demolition is that the government is only acting and imposing its power against the will of the people. We were victims of demolition, so we know how they do it. They did not involve any court business in it. Whatever decision that governments make that affects the interests of their people needs legal backing from a competent court. In this country, what we know is that bailiffs are responsible for evacuating people from their homes, and they are sanctioned by the Sheriff Division, but that has to go through a court system,” he pointed out.
Yankuba Darboe added that this government does not consider such steps, but they only announced their ownership of things and a crackdown on people without legal considerations. He said power belongs to people, and “reasonable” governments don’t behave like that.