FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Abubacarr Saidykhan
23 May 2009
Houses, fences and many other structures in the vicinity of the Kotu Quarry, were on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week, demolished by a team led by officials from the Physical Planning Authority, and were accompanied by members of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) wearing helmets and carrying shields and batons.
The affected residents looked on as the demolition exercise progressed. Passers-by were not allowed near the affected area.
Many of the affected landlords/landladies and residents complained of not being given adequate or any notice before the commencement of the demolition exercise.
According to one Kaddijatou Jallow, a 44 year old woman who is currently working at the Fajara Craft Market, she found the demolition exercise unbelievable. She said they started demolishing their structures Monday morning and continued till midnight. She said the team accompanied by the PIU, entered her compound and told her to safely remove all her belongings from her own house, and to re-locate somewhere else because they have orders to demolish all the structures in that vicinity. According to her, they first demolished the fence, then the living room; in a short time, the whole house was razed to the ground. She considers the matter to be serious, not be left like this.
Twenty-seven year old Omar Keita, a son to Kaddijatou Jallow, said that it was very disheartening to watch on as one's house was being demolished without any genuine reasons. He explained that he and his mother have lived at that residence, owned by her mother, for more than 1 year 6 months. He lamented the struggles his mother had to undergo for ages before getting her compound only to be notified that they have to re-locate.
Musa Jamanka, a grand son to Kaddijatou Jallow, who is currently living is Bakau, also voiced out his concerns. He emphasised that as a student of Government how, throughout the entire course of his studies, he had never come across such a law or module, where the government would send the Police Interventions Unit to demolish people's residences without compromise. He described this method of running a government as unfortunate.
Ebrima Ceesay, a co-worker to Kaddijatou Jallow expressed how shocked he was by the situation.
Sarata Gibba, in her sixties, who lives at Jatta Kunda, Kotu, said she is from Kanilai. She said a notice was given to them one week before the actual day of the demolition. She explained her pathetic situation, pointing out that their belongings have been left outside without protection. She said they are definitely worried about their situation. The fast approaching rainy season is her greatest worry.
She is very much afraid that the rains may commence while they are still under that horrible situation.
Modou Lamin Tamba, a husband to Sarata Gibba, said he hails form Kamfenda in the Foni. He expressed their great discontentment of the process, noting that they do not even know what to do next. He revealed that all these days they have been sleeping outside and bearing the heat of the hot burning sun from dawn to dusk.
Kaddy Sanneh, in her sixties, who lives at Sanneh Kunda, said they had lived there for a period of 11 years. She wept as she narrated her own side of the shocking story. She said she has no other place to relocate with eleven kids under her care. "This is all I have and if I am asked to leave my own residence, then they have to look for a place for me," she lamented. She added that the amount of money spent on her residence is immeasurable. She gasped in horror before uttering her last words: "I am very much worried and confused." She was overwhelmed by pain and anguish that suddenly reduced her to silence.
One Ebrima Jammeh said that he did not receive any notice of demolition unlike others. According to him, residents of the affected area approached the Physical Planning Office in Banjul but they were adamant in coming to conduct the demolition exercise. He said they then gathered themselves and headed to K.M.C to see their ward councillor, but the response was that they should go and sit down.
Mr Jammeh added that they then approached Vice President Madam Isatou Njie Saidy; that upon their arrival at her residence at Fajara, all of them waited outside while two of her colleagues entered to speak to her. He noted that Madam Njie Saidy told them to write a letter concerning the issue which they did.
One Sulayman Camara, a resident of the area, called on the President to intervene immediately to stop the demolition exercise because they do not have anywhere else to go.
Foroyaa will get in touch with the authorities for their reaction to the statements made.
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