FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Abubacrr Saidykhan
4 April 2009
Canteens, workshops, a studio and others structures at the Tallinding Kunjang Market were on Tuesday, 31st March, 2009, at around 10:00 am, demolished by a team purportedly from the Physical Planning Authority, accompanied by the Police Intervention Unit (PIU), armed with AK 47 rifles hanging on their soldiers.
Vendors and people living in the area looked on as the demolition exercise progressed. Passers-by were not allowed to get close.
Many canteen owners complained that they were not given any notice before the commencement of the demolition exercise.
According to one Modou Drammeh, who is a photographer with disability, he was sitting at his studio in the morning, when a group of PIU personnel approached him. He said he was told by them that they (the PIU personnel) had come to remove structures erected on a path in the market without development permit, and without the prior approval of the physical planning authority. He said he told them that he did not receive any information on the demolition exercise, but the PIU personnel insisted in carrying on their duties and further told him that there was no need for the information.
He said he then moved out from his studio and watched them do what they wanted to do. He added that after the demolition, they left the entire rubbles behind.
Mr. Drammeh said he spent a huge amount of money to build those structures, but the team used power on him to destroy his property.
He said two of his younger brothers are serving in the Gambia armed forces, noting that they are all trained professional photographers. He pointed out that when they come back, they will all be shocked at what he called this unbelievable exercise.
One Cherno Jallow, who owned a canteen, said he was ignorant of the exercise. He indicated that he just saw the team in the morning and was approached by one PIU personnel who asked him to remove all his materials, because they were coming to destroy the structures they were ordered to destroy. He said he stood and watched as they demolished his shop. When they were ready, they departed and left the rubbles behind, he said.
Modou Chongan is also victim. He said PIU personnel came to him early in the morning and without telling him anything they gave him a notice that they were coming to demolish the structures that they were asked to destroy.
According to the notice shown to this reporter, they should have come to demolish the structures on the 6th of April 2009. He said he heard the PIU personnel arguing among themselves as to whether or not they should proceed with the demolition or wait for the 6th April. Upon the insistence of one of them that they should just carry on with the demolition exercise there and then instead of waiting for the 6th day of April. He said the rest of the team agreed to do it there and then.
This reporter made further findings as to what the notice entails. It reads: Take notice that being satisfied that the building/structure described below has been erected without a development permit and without the prior approval of the physical planning authority under development control legislation 1995, declared unsafe under the provisions of the Development Control Regulation 1995 and being empowered to order its removal or demolition under the provisions of the said regulations, the planning authority orders the removal or demolition of the building/ structure before the 6th of April 2009.
"Take further notice that upon failure on your part to comply with this notice, the planning authority will arrange for the building or structure to be removed or demolished and charge the cost of such removal or demolition to you.
"Nature of contravention is 'road encroachment', signed by the Director of physical planning on the 31st day of March 2009."
When contacted by this reporter at his office in Banjul, the Director General of The Gambia Physical Planning Authority, declined to comment until at such time he is authorized to do so by the permanent secretary. Foroyaa has not yet succeeded in talking to the permanent secretary to get their point of view on the issue. We will do so as soon as it is possible.
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