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Momodou
Denmark
11851 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Mar 2008 : 14:35:33
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Bulk Of “Half Die” Residents Vacate
By Saikou Ceesay
The majority of Banjul South residents, commonly known as “Half Die” are vacating their dwellings after they were given a month’s notice by The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) to quit.
The compounds that were listed to vacate premises comprised 36, after The Gambia Ports Authority’s decision to include the area in the ports complex.
According to the residents that are yet to vacate the area, they were flabbergasted and dismayed by the short notice given by The Gambia Ports Authority. The residents said they has unanimously agreed on a six month period with The Gambia Ports Authority before they would finally vacate. They suggested that the new site (Cape Point Bakau) should be well prepared by the Ports Authority before they can erect their structures.
They stressed that the agreement with the Ports Authority includes the provision of social amenities amongst others in the area (Cape Point, Bakau). Those who vacated indicated that they are toiling both day and night at their utmost to secure a house for their families. They described the eviction order as unfortunate.
Speaking to this reporter a resident at “Half Die” and a compound head indicated that almost all the compounds at “Half Die” are owned by extended families. He applauded the development of the ports authority but posited that the Ports Authority should have offered them more than what has been offered.
The Ports Authority had issued an ultimatum, whose deadline expired on Friday 29th February 2008, asking residents to quit or face forceful eviction, which has not taken place yet. This reporter endeavoured to get the opinion of the Gambia Ports Authority on the matter but they were not accessible.
Source:Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 26/2008, 3 - 4 March, 2008
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2008 : 19:11:25
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| where exactly is this, is near cape point, the petrol station near rosamond bridge. |
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tamsier
United Kingdom
558 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2008 : 13:29:12
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| This compulsory purchase order served by the Government is sad and terrible. In many cases, half-die had been the ancestoral home of many people for centuries. Compulsory purchase order is a sad affair no matter where in the world it occurs. I appreciate the Government wants to extend the port, but couldn't they have offered better land and payment to these people before wrecking their lives? |
Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2008 : 14:06:39
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Do you know where the offered land is?
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Dr Thomas
Gambia
95 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2008 : 16:55:47
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| From westfield Go past mile 2 central prison Turn right into Bund Road. Follow towards the docks Half Die is on your left |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2008 : 08:30:29
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quote:
Originally posted by tamsier
This compulsory purchase order served by the Government is sad and terrible. In many cases, half-die had been the ancestoral home of many people for centuries. Compulsory purchase order is a sad affair no matter where in the world it occurs. I appreciate the Government wants to extend the port, but couldn't they have offered better land and payment to these people before wrecking their lives?
I agree, I do not think the government played a fair game here. True, the government has a right and the power to take over private land and use it for public good; it is called 'eminent domain'. However, when the government exercises this power of taking over private property for public good, it must give sufficient time for them to vacate and most importantly it must compensate them. This is the difficult part (compensation). In many countries including the United States, compensation is the fair market value of the property. Now what is the fair market value? It is the maximum (not the minimum) price an interested but not a desperate buyer is willing to pay for the property in a free market place. I think the government should have paid the property owners the fair market value of their properties and leave them the choice to buy new properties of their choice instead of relocating them to a government chosen land... |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2008 : 11:39:27
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| Kay,this plan has been known about for years,and with most things Gambian when it concerns money no one will tell you what they have got by way of compensation (or perhaps I have missed the figures?)The difficulty for any compensation claim paid by the government is that it must not be seen to be paying too much and costing the taxpayer unnecessary amount of money.I have no idea astoo where the "government chosen land" is, is it a good place? the name," half die" means exactly that in the olden days half the newborns used to die of illness,so it was not a nice place,and the last time I went past there very little had improved in the way of sanitation and stagnent swampy waters.I think industrial use by the GPA is excellent.I feel for the people who have been displaced,but the port must grow to help Gambia prosper,you can relocate compounds and houses but you cannot relocate the port and it associated services. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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