BAC Chairman Yankuba Darboe and Brikama North Chief Lamin Mondo Jatta
By Buba Gagigo
The Brikama Area Council (BAC) has strongly condemned recent remarks made by the Chief of Brikama North, Lamin Mondo Jatta, describing them as irresponsible and dangerous.
In an audio message circulated on WhatsApp, Chief Jatta urged residents of Brikama North to refuse payment of property rates to the council, alleging that the levy was fraudulent and that he had not been notified by either the council or the central government.
In a statement responding to these claims, BAC criticized the Chief’s comments, stating:
“This is not only ignorant of the Chief but very irresponsible and dangerous for a sitting Chief to incite rebellion against the council of the region, which is responsible for the development of the region. The allegation that our council is engaged in fraudulent activity is a serious allegation, which is baseless and without an iota of truth,” BAC said in a statement.
The council clarified that the property tax of D2,000 per annum for properties valued at over D500,000 has been in effect since January 1, 2020, as part of the council’s legally gazetted tariffs. BAC noted that this law predates Chief Jatta’s appointment as Chief of Brikama North in 2024.
BAC further alleged that Chief Jatta himself has failed to pay his property rates for the past five years.
“It, however, exposing enough to notify the council that Chief Lamin Mondo Jatta is one of the people in this region, who has not been paying his proper rates for the last 5 years. Chief Lamin Mondo Jatta needs to know that ignorance is not an excuse of the law.” the council stated.
Referring to the General Rates Act (CAP 34.02, Act No. 9 of 1992), BAC emphasized that it has the legal authority to levy and increase rates as needed to meet its financial obligations. The council stressed that the tariff was legally approved and gazetted by former Minister of Local Government Musa Drammeh before its implementation in 2020.
“By virtue of Section 3 of the General Rates Act, CAP 34.02 of the laws of the Gambia Act No 9 of 1992, Brikama Area Council is the rating authority of the West Coast Region. And by virtue of Section 4 of that same Act, the Brikama Area Council has all the powers to levy rates or increase the same at any time of its chosen to cover its total expenditure needs in its annual budget. This is very clear in the General Rates Act, of the Laws of the Gambia,” BAC said.
The council condemned Chief Jatta’s accusations of fraud, highlighting that traditional authorities are represented in the council through figures like Falalo Touray, Chief of Kombo South. BAC announced that, in response to Chief Jatta’s remarks, tax collectors have been dispatched to his residence to ensure compliance with his property tax obligations, including his outstanding arrears from the past five years.
“As such, it is reprehensible for a sitting chief to claim that the council, which has Chiefs representatives in the person of Falalo Touray, Chief of Kombo South, is engaged in fraudulent activity in collecting rates, which is in fact its core mandate function and which is it is empowered by law to collect. In fact, as a result of his irresponsible utterances, the council has instructed its value property collectors to the residence of Chief Lamin Mondo Jatta to make sure he starts paying his value property rates for this year and his arrears for the last 5 years,” they said.
The council underscored that it routinely takes defaulters to court over unpaid taxes and would not grant Chief Jatta or his supporters any exemptions. BAC also highlighted the irony of his stance, noting that the council funds the operations of all District Tribunal courts, including the salaries of tribunal staff who work under the chiefs.
“It is worth noting that the Brikama Area Council has been taking people to court on a daily basis for nonpayment and sees no reason why Chief Lamin Mondo Jatta and anyone who wants to join his bandwagon would be an exception. It is worth noting that the Brikama Area Council is the very council that is paying for all District Tribunal staffs of the District Chiefs Court, which include the chiefs of all the districts in the West Coast Region, which is costing the council a fortune from its revenue for the running of their Chiefs Tribunals. For a member of that same District Tribunal, which benefits from this council on a monthly basis, to call on his residents not to pay to this council, the very revenue that this council depends on to pay for the running of their tribunal is quite simply madness,” BAC said.
The Brikama Area Council concluded its statement by urging all residents of the West Coast Region to continue paying their property rates, emphasizing that tax compliance is essential for the council’s ability to fund development projects and public services.