Gambian lawyer asks Barrow to probe Salagi demolitions

A top lawyer wants President Barrow to create a commission on home demolitions in Sukuta-Salagi. Lamin J Darboe believes the government acted wrongly when houses were torn down. Many families became homeless after the Physical Planning officials came with security forces. These officials claimed people built on government land, but residents showed permits from the same department.

Darboe says the Sukuta-Kenebaring area never legally belonged to the government. He mentioned how community members wrote letters about officials taking their property. The government created a panel with police leadership to look into these claims. Darboe had to threaten legal action before seeing their report. The investigation confirmed improper land acquisition but strangely suggested prosecuting the original owners.

Laws require the government to pay fair compensation before using private land. Darboe thinks advisers might be misleading the president about these issues. He claims that the claims about reserving space for schools or cemeteries are complete lies from ministry officials. Darboe alleges that many reserved plots ended up as private homes for government workers. He urges President Barrow to investigate thoroughly to expose the truth behind this injustice.