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| Momodou |
Posted - 22 Mar 2014 : 21:18:22
LAND DISPUTES EVERYWHERE AND LAND COMMISSION NOWHERE
Foroyaa Editorial:Published on Saturday, 22 March 2014
As land disputes and demolition of properties intensify, Foroyaa has been wondering what is holding the establishment of the Land Commission. We have finally been told by an official of the administering Ministry that the members would soon be sworn in.
For 17 years Section 192 of the Constitution has called for the establishment of a Land Commission. In 2001, the constitutional provision was amended adding that an Act would explain the details.
Since 2007 an Act has been enacted entitled “Land Commission Act, 2007.” It is perplexing why the commission has not been established for the past 6 years. Section 14 of the act provides for the following functions: “A “The Commission shall
(a) advise the Secretary of State on political matters relating to land administration to ensure strict adherence to those policies and transparency in land allocations;
(b) investigate disputes on land ownership and occupation in any area in The Gambia;
(c) assess land rent and premium for properties within any area in The Gambia;
(d) monitor the registration of properties and inspect land registers and records;
(e) be responsible for all matters relating to national boundaries, including monitoring and reporting to the Secretary of State; and (f) perform such other functions as the Secretary of State may assign to it.
Foroyaa is informed that the Commission will soon be constituted. Eyes and ears are wide open for any announcement soon.
Source: Foroyaa |
| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Momodou |
Posted - 22 Mar 2014 : 21:28:12
MORE THAN 15 COMPOUNDS DEMOLISHED AT LATRIYA
By Alhagie F.S. Sora
Foroyaa: Published on Friday, 21 March 2014
Reliable information reaching this paper has it that, a group of people who are conveyed by the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) to Kombo North District of the West Coast Region on Wednesday 11 March 2014 and demolished more than 15 Compounds, without prior notice to the occupants of the demolished compounds. The information further reveals that the next morning on Thursday 12 March the Police came to the said village and arrested 10 youth including an elder and a military officer who was said to be later handed over to the military Barracks.
The arrested individuals include Baboucarr Jallow, Sailu Bah, Mamadou Jobe, San B. Mendy, Paul Mendy, Bill Mendy, Simon Mendy, John K. Mendy, Demba Jallow and Paul B Mendy all these people were said to be arrested and detained from Thursday 12 till Saturday 14 March 2014 when they were released on bail in the sum of D50, 000.
The arrestees indicated that they are charged with one count of obstructing a police officer while carrying out lawful duty. According to the demolition victims the case of the said land is before the Court and that the court ordered both parties not to interfere with the said land until when the court decides on the case.
The victims expressed disappointment over the manner in which the demolition was done by the people who came to demolish their compounds at Latriya village. According to the victim this is the third time such a demolition was carried out by unknown people supported by security personnel.
The victims revealed that the PIU were heavily armed. “We are driven out of our compounds like animals and demolish our buildings. The funniest thing is that they did not serve us with any notice”.
Paul Mendy a member of Mendy Kunda said they are surprised by this action because the matter is before the court and he said he believes that no one should take the law into his hands and tamper with the matter which is before the court adding that the police came and arrested them without giving any reasons.
Jainaba Jallow a demolition victim said she has been living at the said village for more than 30 years and that since he has her compound nobody claimed ownership of the area.
She further said they pay tax payer regularly and that she has valid documents from the Alkalo of the Village. She said the area was a thick forest and they cleared the area after been given by the Alkalo.
Were where the claimant if they know that they are the owners of the said area. She further reveals that they converged at the State House in Banjul as to meet the President and report the matter, but they were intercepted at the main entrance by the Security forces and we were unable to see the president. ”
we are very sure that if he is aware of this kind of act, if he (the president) is away he would ensure that justice stands. We are part of the first settlers of this village since the First Republic went the area was a forest.
Madam Jallow recalled that one man called Folonko Bojang from Jambur village claimed 800 by 800 square metres of land saying it belongs to his grandfather and further threatened them that he would come with the police to vacate them from the land. “ at first We thought he was making funs, but this is exactly what he did because he was the one who accompany the PIU and carried out the demolition”.
She said they referred him to notify the Alkalo before he could carry out the demolition, but responded that he did not have time to talk to the Alkalo. She said they asked him to produce some documents from the court or the any government authority but could not show them.
Alieu Jallow middle aged man said, “I bought his Land from the current Alkalo by the name Lamin Darbo, so if the Land belongs to the claimant they could have questioned him of why he sold someone’s land to us.
This is third year that I am evicted from my compound without notice. Last year 2013 when they came to evict us I was given 60,000 for the construction of our mosque but I could not see it when they left and that has caused me lots of trouble and discomfort in the village”.
Adding that this is why still the mosque could not be completed. Adama Barry said no document was sent to them prior and nothing was also given to them on the day of the demolition by the said demolition team.
Baboucarr Jallow an old aged man said he was detained for more than two days starting from Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 2014 and charged with obstruction of police officers on Lawful duties.
He said that he and his family have been living in the village for 37 years now, adding that his problem has started in 2004, he said that all this duration, the claimant has never come and claimed the areas. He said that Jambur is situated in Kombo South, while Latriya is in Kombo North. He called on the authority to intervene in the issue. He said that the most interesting thing said is that they (the men) were not even the ones who obstructed the Police as they claim, he said is their wives. But since they came to arrest, they arrested the men.
He said he called on the state to investigate and establish the truth on the matter as they feel that their rights have been abused. He said that the matter is before the court and that should resumed on the 24 March 2014 at the Brikama Group Tribunal for proceeding.
He said that since the case was before the court both parties were cautioned by the court not to tamper with the said land until when the court decides on the matter.
The head of the demolition at the department of physical planning Mr. Amadou Bachilly responded to the recent demolition exercise which took place at the Latriya village in the Kombo North District of the West Coast Region. Mr. Bachilly said the demolition which took place on Wednesday 11 March 2014 was a continuation from where they had stopped last year.
“The Latriya demolition is not a new thing, we have started it since last year and this one is just a continuation from where we stopped”. He said they will continue to demolish structures at the said village because they are acting on court orders; that they do not just jump and carried out the demolition.
We carried out the exercise because we are authorised to do so. We are only the implementing agent for the government and as such we must do it if we are authorise.”
Regarding the issue of not giving them notice, he said notice was given since before the start of the demolition in 2013. He asserted that the act is a court order and they must carry it out.
Source: Foroyaa |
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