FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
3 July 2009
editorial
Demolition exercises are now becoming a pattern in the country. Buyers of land are encouraged to purchase land by local authorities who endorse land acquisition and receive payment of yard rates for years.
Hundreds of families have acquired land and built on those plots of land from their hard won dalasis with the hope of fulfilling their right of abode. However, after a brief period of false security of abode, their dream of a place they can call their home was shattered into pieces whenever a demolition team emerges to raze their fortunes to the ground.
It has happened at Jamisa, twice, at Misera, at Busumbala, at Gunjur, at Barra, at Kotu and other places. Foroyaa will seek an interview with the Minister for Local Government and Lands to find out what they are really after.
It is the responsibility of every government to ensure that the people have a place to lay their heads by facilitating the construction of houses not their destruction. Indeed section 216 of the Constitution has made it incumbent on the state to facilitate equal access to habitable shelter to all and sundry. It states:
"The state shall endeavour to facilitate equal access to clean and safe water, adequate health and medical services, habitable shelter, sufficient food and security to all persons."
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