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Momodou
Denmark
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 Posted - 28 Jan 2008 : 18:16:30
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Half Die Residents Given Ultimatum To Vacate
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
At least 36 compounds within Banjul South, commonly known as “Half Die”, were given one month notice by the Gambia Ports Authority to vacate their compounds or face forceful eviction by February 29. The 36 compounds were among the compounds that were listed by the ports authority to annex them for the extension of the port.
However the situation did not go down well with the residents of the said place, who expressed their worries over the newly allocated plots for them at Cape Point, which they said is far from being habitable. The residents the said plots, which are 20 by 25 metres, are small and described the amounts offered to them as cheat. They added that they are yet to be given the title deeds of the said plots.
According to the residents, they were surprised with the short notice given by the ports management. They said they have agreed on a six months period with the ports authorities before they would vacate and transfer to the new place allocated to them; that the new site should be well prepared by the ports before they can erect their structures. They said the agreement entails that the ports should provide necessary facilities like electricity, water and telephone services to the area before they could move to erect structures. They complained that none of the above have been fulfilled; that they cannot move to such a place without those basic facilities.
Some residents complained that the eviction order has created a nightmare for them; that they are desperately searching for a place to house themselves and their families. An old woman narrated how her grand parents suffered to transform the place into a residential place, which she said was swampy and water logged during the rains. She said her family had gone through lots of hardship to transform the place for human habitation. She noted that their family has been the owner of the place for almost two centuries now. She pointed out that the idea of moving out of the place had created a fracture within their extended family structure. An elderly sister who is very proud to be a Banjulian, said they do not oppose the idea of vacating the place but the amount offered by the ports is a cheat on them, compared to plots sold in Banjul. She said she prefers to be re-located to another part of Banjul like in the swamps behind Tobacco road. She emphasised that it will be very difficult for them to relocate in the Kombos when their every day life is connected to Banjul; that many of them are poor and cannot provide for the school fees, lunch and transport for their school going children every day.
Some families who refused to accept the monies offered by the ports said, they have an extended family and that the property is owned in common. They said it is still a problem for some family members to accept the offer which they deem as very small. They welcome the idea of the ports development, but stressed that the ports should have given them more than what has been offered.
The eviction notice which was dated 21 January signed by the Managing Director of GPA and copied to the Deputy Director and all the Directors and Task force members, reads as follows.
“Following the successful negotiation and acquisition of captioned property by government, you are hereby notified and requested to vacate the said property latest Friday 29 February 2008.
Please be advised that failure to vacate the property after the expiry of this deadline will leave government with no other alternative but to resort to forceful eviction.
Please be guarded accordingly.”
Foroyaa will get in touch with the GPA for their opinion on the matter.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 12/2008, 28 – 29 January 2008
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