By Arfang M.S. Camara
The Ministry of Lands and Regional Government has compensated the Sukuta community with 324 plots of land after having their lands at Salagi Layout seized by government.
This compensation came following a violent clash, two weeks ago, between the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) and the mob that gathered at Salagi, as officials of the Gambia government, through the department of Physical Planning, demolished structures they say fall within the government reserved lands. Over a dozen people were taken into custody and remanded at Brusubi Police Station.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands confirmed on Tuesday, during a press conference, that “324 plots of lands have been given as compensation to the community of Sukuta after their lands at Salaji Layout were confiscated by government,”
He added that his ministry is ready to work with the communities across the country to ensure the safeguarding of their rights with regards to land issues when violated by the government.
The PS said that section (4) of the Lands Acquisition and Compensation Act 1991 states that the ministry may acquire any land for public utility, stating however, that such consideration or compensation as may be agreed upon or determined in accordance with this Act maybe required.
However, the ministry acknowledges that compensation has not been paid to Kebba Kunda family of Sukuta for the acquisition of a portion of their land for public use (Salagi Layout) during the acquisition process.
Thus, “the ministry will work closely with the Kebba Kunda family to effect the said compensation in accordance with the land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1991,” said PS Sanyang.
He buttressed further that section 24 of the Physical Planning and development Control Act 1991 states that a person shall not carry out any development on any land subject to the provision of this Act, unless that person has been issued with a development permit in respect of the land by the planning authority of the Area in which the land is situated.