By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Chairman of the Brikama Area Council, Yankuba Darboe, on Thursday expressed concerns about the ongoing Operation Clear the Roads in Brikama, questioning its focus on demolishing market stalls rather than addressing the broader issues it was intended to resolve.
Chairman Darboe raised these concerns during a press conference following a meeting with Pateh Jallow, the Police Operation Commander, regarding the operation’s progress and impact in Brikama.
He explained that the operation, while initially intended to clear roads, has primarily targeted the demolition of market stalls, which he believes is a misguided approach. He referenced a previous agreement between the council and the authorities, which he said had been violated, leading to the council’s current stance. “The purpose of this press briefing is to update the public about the ongoing challenges that Brikama Area Council is facing with the Operation Clear the Roads, because the operation what we have seen in Brikama is that they are not engaging in clearing roads, but they have been engaging in demolishing the Brikama market. We have had an issue with them before; we sat and had an agreement, and then they came and violated their own part of the agreement, and as a result, the council had to react to the same thing,” Darboe stated.
While acknowledging that Brikama has many roads that could benefit from the operation, Darboe expressed frustration over its narrow focus on the market. He pointed out that the council’s decision to allocate stalls along the market’s perimeter is in compliance with legal mandates, as outlined in the Local Government Act.
“Our function is clearly spelled out in the local government act, and I want everybody to be very clear about this. Because some people will say we like to cause trouble, or we care about causing tension, but this is the reality; anybody who understands the functions of the council would have to appreciate what we are doing and why we are doing it. And why we are challenging operations to clear the roads whenever it comes to the Brikama market or whenever it comes to the demolishing of our market,” he explained.
Darboe referred to Section 18 of the Local Government Act, which grants the council the authority to regulate, license, and prohibit the sale of goods or erection of structures on public streets. He also noted the National Roads Authority (NRA) Act, which gives the authority the responsibility for road administration and maintenance. However, Darboe stressed that the Local Government Act, in place since 2002, should take precedence over the NRA Act, passed in 2003.
“If we all follow the law, jurisdiction and our limits, we should not have a problem. If NRA comes on any road, and they find that someone has erected a stall, they should ask who gives you the authority to eradicate this stall if the person says it is the council, NRA should know that local government act has given Council that mandate,” he said.
He emphasized that the NRA’s laws are not superior to the Local Government Act and do not take precedence over it, as all laws are equal in authority.
He further stated that no stall in Brikama Market should be demolished without the council’s approval.
“Because the law has empowered us only the council with the authority to do such if we need help to implement any such demolition we will call the police to come and enforce the law, but if we do not need them we do not want the police to come into our market in the name of whatever operation let them not come to our market,” he said.
He highlighted that his council is dedicated to safeguarding its people, particularly the vendors and market goers, even if it requires challenging higher authorities.