By Makutu Manneh
A dispute has emerged between the Brikama Area Council and the Department of Physical Planning and Housing over planning authority related to construction work at the Kora Monument site in Brikama Central.
The disagreement centers on ongoing construction work at the monument, with the planning department issuing an emergency notice ordering the council to halt the project.
On Thursday, Yankuba Darboe, chairman of the Brikama Area Council, posted a copy of the notice on his official page. The letter, sent by the planning department, alleged that the work being undertaken by the council had not been properly authorized.
According to the notice, the department said it was “satisfied that the work you are doing at Brikama is unapproved, unauthorized, and constitutes a contravention of the provisions of the Development Permit issued to you under the Development Regulations 1995.”
The department directed the council to cease work immediately and to report within 24 hours to the principal development control officer and secretary of the West Coast Region Planning Authority. Failure to comply, the letter warned, could lead to court action or the demolition of structures at the site.
Mr. Darboe rejected the order, arguing that under the Local Government Act 2002, area councils are the designated planning authorities within their jurisdictions.
“The law is clear,” he said, adding that the council operates under the laws of The Gambia and is not subject to directives from what he described as “any king or prince of this country.”
Mr. Darboe said the council would continue construction despite the notice.
“Please note that we will not stop work and will continue work until whatever consequences are destined for us,” he said. “We are ready to die doing what we have sworn to do to develop our region.”
He also claimed that the council had been unfairly targeted, saying no other area council had faced similar actions. He described the dispute as part of what he called a political witch hunt against the council since it assumed office.
Mr. Darboe said the council would stand its ground and would not retreat in the face of what he described as an abuse of power by President Adama Barrow against the council.
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