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Momodou
Denmark
11567 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Sep 2013 : 12:26:54
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What’s going on in Batokunku? I hear that houses are currently being demolished there. Foroyaa had an article on it but the content is not accessible now.
Any updates?
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2013 : 17:27:33
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It seems odd that a small village should have so many problems ,it MAYBE that the 2 are connected in some way,there again MAYBE NOT, I know nothing,just pointing out ODD coincidences.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201308220380.html
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
What’s going on in Batokunku? I hear that houses are currently being demolished there. Foroyaa had an article on it but the content is not accessible now.
Any updates?
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Momodou
Denmark
11567 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2013 : 20:36:59
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LIFE TIME INVESTMENTS DESTROYED IN BATOKUNKU DEMOLITION
By Kebba Jeffang and Ousman Sillah
Foroyaa: Published on Thursday, 05 September 2013
Thursday, 29 August 2013, witnessed the destruction of four private residences and the Mama Africa Art Museum in the Batokunku Village in the West Coast Region, as part of an ongoing demolition exercise under the supervision of the Department of Physical Planning. The victims of the demolition include three Gambian nationals and two Europeans who built solid and finished structures worth millions of dalasi. Three of the compounds, including a storey building, were already occupied by their owners, while the other two were close to completion.
The notice issued by the Department of Physical Planning asking the property owners to vacate the area indicated that their compounds are situated on private/reserved lands. The victims, however, maintained that they have officially approved legal documents of ownership from the Physical Planning Department which gave them the clearance to construct their houses.
Isha Fofana, a renowned Gambian female artist and former proprietress of the demolished Mama Africa Art Museum and Cultural Centre, said she has all the necessary legal ownership documents issued by the appropriate state institutions on land matters. Appearing devastated when talking to this reporter at her Museum while waiting for the demolition squad to descend on her property, Madam Fofana said many years of moil and toil have been invested in the place to make it a centre of excellence for artistic attraction and cultural learning.
She explained that more than one hundred students of art and natural medicine are currently undergoing training at her centre. She added that the museum was also a centre of tourist attraction showcasing both Gambian and African cultural heritage thus contributing to the growth of the tourism sector in particular and the economy in general.
Unable to complete her explanation as she was overwhelmed by emotion, Madam Fofana said: “I have left everything in the hands of Allah. Since I have started from scratch to reach this level, Allah may help me again to recover from this situation.” Members of the village community, friends and relatives, all in tears, helped her to pack up whatever they could before the arrival of the demolition squad that was accompanied by a large contingent of armed security personnel from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU).
One of the demolished compounds had a storey building that belongs to a Gambian national in his seventies. He is a Linguist whose career with sub-regional, regional and international organisations spanned four decades. Mr. Jallow, after retiring from active service, returned home and settled down. He too has legal documents of ownership from the state.
Mr. Erik Raven, a Dane married to a Gambian, and the owner of one of the storey buildings pulled down during the demolition, told this paper that a lifetime investment worth between fifteen and twenty million dalasi has been destroyed. Mr. Raven added that the amount spent on the construction of the storey building excludes the perimeter fence which, he said, cost more than D100, 000 (One hundred thousand dalasi).
He also displayed documents which he said are evidences that he is the legal or bona fide owner of the said property. A Gambian national, Musa Faye, is also an occupant in one of the demolished compounds. He also reiterated the position that the acquisition of the compound has been processed through the normal official and legal channels. He however lamented the impatience that has been shown when he requested for time to be given to allow his carpenters to remove the fixtures and furniture for future use.
“The bulldozer moved in and demolished everything in its path,” said Mr. Faye. Attempts to talk to the Physical Planning officials on the ground did not materialize as they were busy directing the demolition exercise. Visiting the Physical Planning department to get the version of officials, the Foroyaa reporter was told that both the Director and the head of the demolition team were indisposed.
Foroyaa will continue its efforts to talk to the Physical Planning officials on the issue of the demolished properties to which they have already given official stamp of approval.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11567 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2013 : 21:03:37
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NO OFFICIAL EXPLANATION YET ON BATOKUNKU DEMOLITION
By Kebba Jeffang
Published on Thursday, 05 September 2013
In its Monday, 2 September, publication, issue No. 162/2013, on the ongoing demolition exercise carried out by the Department of Physical Planning on private residences and an Art Museum at Batokunku Village in the Kombo South District of West Coast Region, Foroyaa indicated that a follow up will be made with the concerned government officials to get an explanation on the reasons why these landed properties which were officially approved have to be demolished on the grounds that they are on reserved/private land, whose private property is it and whether the owners will be compensated.
Visiting the Physical Planning office in Banjul on Monday, 2 September, 2013 this reporter was told that the Director was not available, but directed to the Assistant Director.
The reporter was later directed to the head of the team that carried out the demolition exercise at Batokunku, Mr. Muhammed Batchilly. According to him, they are not mandated to talk to journalist unless they are authorized to do so by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government and Lands upon a written request from the concerned media house.
However, this reporter was informed by an anonymous source that the demolition exercise at Batokunku has ended.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11567 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 19:13:46
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UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on Friday, 06 September 2013
Last week the Department of Physical Planning carried out a demolition exercise indicating that the land the home owners are occupying do not belong to them but are ‘privately owned’ or reserved lands. The home owners on the other hand showed our reporter documents they say attest their ownership of the plots. How such confusion can arise is unimaginable.
The home owners show our reporter documents certifying ownership by the department of physical planning, as well lease documents. How can the Department of Physical Planning now claim that the land is reserved land? Or are they claiming that the documents are faked?
The question which many owners of leased land will now be asking themselves is whether the land they now occupy is theirs or ‘private/reserved land’ as in the case of Batokunku. Who are the private owners of the plots that have been demolished? Did any private owners of plots claim that their plots have been intruded?
If that is the case why not leave these ‘dispossessed’ owners to claim for their plots and to take the matter to court if they so desire?
In the case of reserved land why did the Department of Physical Planning not refuse to endorse ownership at the time of processing the lease documents? These issues need clarification and if Foroyaa has the opportunity to talk to the Director of Physical Planning, we hope these points will be clarified.
The director has indicated that we should write when he was approached, which we will do and inform our readers accordingly. The home owners have the right to sue the government in court for recovery of what they claim is their plots or for compensation. Needless to say, the home owners say they were given only a very short notice and their pleas for longer notice to allow them to adjust to a new reality fell on deaf ears.
Why the rush? What did they hope to gain? Some of the home owners we spoke to say they spent millions of dalasi to build their houses and those millions now seem to have gone to the drain.
Reports have it that one of the home owners became so depressed that he was contemplating his life, and was subsequently held in ‘protective custody’ by the police. Could the Department of Physical Planning not have considered another approach? |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 19:52:53
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Someone was MAYBE, VERY JEALOUS. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/jealous )
"Why the rush? What did they hope to gain? Some of the home owners we spoke to say they spent millions of dalasi to build their houses and those millions now seem to have gone to the drain."
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.”
William Shakespeare, Othello |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 06 Sep 2013 21:18:50 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11567 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2013 : 10:34:46
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FOROYAA IS NOT A COURT HOUSE LEARN TO USE THE COURTS AS LAND GREIVANCES INCREASE
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on Thursday, 19 September 2013
As some people moan over the demolition of their properties, they are increasingly turning to Foroyaa for support to put their case to the authorities with the hope that they would act to salvage their situation. It is important for all those who have grievances to know that there are legal avenues to pursue their cases. The Constitution states in section 22 that
no landed property of any description shall be confiscated without compensation.The Section reads:
‘No property of any description shall be taken possession of compulsorily, and no right over or interest in any such property shall be acquired compulsorily in any part of The Gambia.....”
In the same vein, the Constitution empowers victims in section 37 to go to the High court for redress. It reads:
“If any person alleges that any of the provisions of protective section 18 to 33 or section 36 (5) of this Chapter [which includes section 22] has been, is being or is likely to be contravened in relation to himself or herself by any person he or she may apply to the High Court for redress.”
The courts are meant to protect the rights of the citizens. This is why section 25 empowers citizens to petition the executive and if they derive no results they could turn to the courts. The provision reads:
“Every person shall have the right to freedom to petition the Executive for redress of grievances and to resort to the Courts for the protection of his or her rights.”
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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