MC Cham Jr, Business Councillor, KMC
By Buba Gagigo
MC Cham Jr., a supporter of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and a Business Councillor at the Kanifing Municipal Council, has declared that the lease land designated as the official residence of the Chief Justice, which has now been allocated to President Barrow for private use by the Lands Ministry, will be reclaimed by the next government.
MC Cham Jr. made this statement in response to a press release from the Minister of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs, which justified the ministry’s decision to allocate the land to President Barrow.
“The press statement from the Ministry of Lands, Regional Governments, and Religious Affairs has confirmed what our Party Leader said: they took state land that was leased and designated as the official residence of the Chief Justice and gave it to the president for private use. If Lawyer Darboe hadn’t spoken out, they wouldn’t have come forward to inform the public. Their clarification has only further implicated the president because the land act is very clear about leasing land. You (the President) were supposed to allocate lands to the citizens, but instead, you allocated it to yourself,” MC Cham Jr. said.
He also highlighted that when President Barrow came to power, he established a commission to investigate the lands of former president Yahya Jammeh.
“For 22 years of his rule, they took all his compounds and claimed he had no compound, which I don’t believe. But now we see President Barrow doing the same thing, taking a leased property meant for the Chief Justice,” he added.
The Ministry of Lands, Regional Governments, and Religious Affairs stated in their press release that the residence is not occupied by anyone. MC Cham Jr. argued that it is the government’s responsibility to develop the place for the Chief Justice.
“You didn’t build it, but instead, you gave it to the president—a place that is leased and designated as the official residence of the Chief Justice. That is very sad. All the money wasted in politics could have built the residence for the Chief Justice. In fact, during President Barrow’s nomination at IEC, his documents indicated that he has more than two compounds. That disqualifies him from being allocated land. I will tell President Barrow that he is building that place for the government because the next government will return the land earmarked as the official residence of the Chief Justice. I think you should learn from Yahya Jammeh,” MC Cham Jr. stated.
MC Cham Jr. also pointed out that Lands Minister Hamat Bah should understand the difference between a layout and state property.
“Kanifing Estate, Pipeline, and Bakoteh are all layouts. In the past, people applied and received allocations. That was during Jawara’s time, and I know Darboe was among those given land in the layout, if his allocation allegations are true. That is different from state property, and during that time, Darboe was not in the government. Why are they bringing up Darboe’s immediate family? Are they not Gambians? They are Gambians and have the right. If their allegations were true, they should have mentioned names in Darboe’s family who were allocated lands. All that President Barrow is building will eventually go back to the government. You are left with only two years. If you contest, you will lose, and if you bring another candidate, he will lose,” he concluded.