Millions wasted as Jammeh issues ultimatum to demolish old Yundum buildings

By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-In-Chief

Highly placed sources at the Ministry for Local Government and Lands, reveal that a memo from State House decreed by President Jammeh, had instructed for the immediate demolition of all buildings, structures or fences built at Old Yundum village bearing proximity to the so-called army reserved land.

Quoting the presidential decree, our unimpeachable sources say “All those who built fences or structures at the Army Reserved land situated in Old Yundum, behind the Second Infantry Battalion Camp of The Gambia Armed Forces have up to 25 February 2010 to remove or demolish their structures, or else the authorities will arrange for such demolition and charge costs on the developers.”

Following this revelation, the latest twist in President Jammeh’s worrisome penchant for land grabbing, we dispatched our correspondent to visit the scene. Several villagers and local businessmen, who spoke to our correspondent on conditions of strict confidentiality, revealed that President Jammeh was vindictive and bent on seizing their lands for his private business, using the army as a pretext. Some of the locals were in tears as they lamented to our reporter the many years of savings and hard work that went into the purchase of the lands and the construction materials worth millions of dalasis. “Many have complained that they spent about a Million dalasi. The authorities have already used a bulldozer and demarcated a road bordering the Army Barracks from the rest of Old Yundum land areas and they therefore, have no doubt, that this latest, is only for Jammeh’s own personal use” they told our reporter.

A notice seen visibly hanging on the fences and halls of buildings and foundations, orders occupants of such lands to remove structures developed in the area before Thursday or risk paying the cost of removing their structures built "without development permit.”