Africa-Press – Gambia. The Minister of Local Government, Lands, and Religious Affairs, Hamat NK Bah, told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the government will not provide financial or land compensation to residents left homeless after the demolition of structures in Salagi.
“In as much as this Government is interested in housing citizens throughout this country, I assure you that I will not contemplate even compensating them one dime because they did not own the land where they built these structures and did not obtain these development permits through due process,” Minister Bah said.
The minister said that the residential layouts for Salagi proper and Salagi extension were initiated by the government in 2003 and 2007, respectively, and included designated social and public spaces intended for community use.
“Unfortunately, these designated spaces meant for public good were encroached upon; as a result, the Department of Physical Planning and Housing served emergency stop notices, which were subsequently followed by demolition notices,” he said.
Minister Bah emphasized that obtaining a development permit does not confer ownership of land. “A development permit is only one process leading to the construction of a house. Therefore, obtaining the development permit does not stop this Government from moving people who have occupied public places that we are moving for the public good,” he said.
He added that repeated notices were issued to residents, who “deliberately refused to adhere to them,” leaving the government no choice but to enforce the law. “Repeated notices were issued, and they deliberately refused to adhere to those notices; and the government must act. Law must be reinforced,” he said.
He added, “I want to assure you due process was followed, repeated notices were issued, and they deliberately refused to adhere to those notices, and the government must act; law must be reinforced,” he said.
The minister also declined to comment on investigations into how residents acquired the land prior to demolition, saying that it falls outside the ministry’s mandate. “That is not my business. It is the business of those who bought it and from whom they bought it,” he said.
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