Prominent Gambian Islamic Scholar
By Landing Ceesay
Sheikh Hamah Jaiteh, an Islamic Scholar, while addressing Gambian environmentalists protesting the “sale” of Old-Cycle-Track, a tourist attraction in Senegambia, has urged Gambians to fight for their rights.
“Gambians let’s wake up from our sleep…Use your minds critical thinking and creative minds and defend your rights. This your land, this is your right and it is my birthright. My grand and great-grandchildren should benefit from this land,” he said.
Jaiteh described the incident as “injustice” and this “transgression” against nature and the country.
“…this is injustice and this transgression against nature and the Gambia. This is a violation, where are the lawyers? what are you talking about? where are the imams? Where are the scholars? Where are the Alkolos?” Jaiteh asked.
Imam Jaiteh said land is not meant for sale but development; saying the land in question belongs to all generations.
“Where are the poor people surviving from this place? Where are the authorities we voted into the office? where are the legitimacy and constitutionality? Who made this deal is among the people we voted into the office? Let us expose the person who sold this land. Gambians mind your business is over. Gambians the indifference to a social or a national problem is over. Gambians no angel or devil will come and rescue you from your “slave” mentality. We should come here every day to make sure that this place is not taken. Who is the concerned authority? I want him to see me, if he wants a live debate let him come we have it?
You don’t sell land, you develop land. That stupidity must stop now. The land belongs to all generations you found, it will be here and you will die and leave it here,” the Islamic scholar said.
The veteran Islamic Scholar said they are ready to go extreme because they are looking for social revolution, saying they believe that they can get justice for the sale of the Old Cycle Track behind Palma Rima Beach.
“Take politics out of this because this is religious- whether you are a Muslim, Christian, or even agnostic, this is religion. Because Allah brought us to make this world and the world cannot be made without trees and trees cannot be made without lands. So, we should have land first. But imagine you come to this place where people are farming to feed their families and found out that it is being dismantled. The Rice that used to cultivated here can feed the whole country. But now they cut all the palm trees here, now even to have palm oil is a problem,” Imam Jaiteh said.
Sheikh Hamah Jaiteh made these remarks on 8th September 2021 at Old Cycle Track behind Palma Rima Beach during a protest by the Gambian environmentalists against the “sale” of the tourist attraction site (Old Cycle Track).
However, the Director General of Tourism Board Abubacarr Camara said the place was not sold to a Chinese National but legally allocated to a Malaysian company with proper documentation.
He added that the Malaysian company would construct two hotels, a park and a shopping mall at the place.
GT Board boss said the allocation was done before his appointment.