Jabang Residents Express Disappointment Over Demolition Of Their Structures

Residents of Jabang have expressed disappointment over the demolition of their structures by the Department of Physical Planning. The physical planning were seen by residents in the area on Monday demolishing what seems to be structure and properties belonging to residents of the area.

Reacting to the demolition, Momodou Bah, one of the residents affected, said that the physical planning department accused them of building structures on a waterway without a permit.

“We received notice from the Department of Physical Planning last Saturday 20th August 2022, for a two days notice and given the reason mentioned, said Mr Bah.

Mr Bah said that they thought that they were just going to demolish the fences alone, but said however they came on Monday and demolished their fence up to the backyard

He further expressed disappointment and said that this is very unfair because right now, many places are flooded in the Gambia and those people are looking for places to go and wondered if they demolished their house, where would they go? And he said he wish they could have been given at least a month’s notice. 

Another frustrated resident, Ansumana Darboe whose house was partly demolished said that the demolition of his compound is very unfortunate,although he initially took it as a joke because the notice was too short.

 “I got my land through Social Security. I believed Social Security went through a process in which they involved physical planning before allocating the land to us. My belief is that if they feel that our houses are on a waterway they should go back to the Social Security and tell them that the lands or plots given to the identified people are on the waterway and then we will  find a solution to it.” Darboe said.

Mr. Darboe, alleged that the people doing the demolition had no respect for them as one of them wanted to stop him from filming the demolition. “Some of them were laughing with no remorse.” And  said he spent millions building his compound and called for complete compensation for the destruction to his house by the Physical Planning.

He also alleged that one official from the physical planning department were saying that they were giving orders.