Following the enactment of the new Lands Commission bill 2007 by the National Assembly on Monday, 10th September 2007 members of the National Assembly have expressed disgust over what they termed as allocation of numerous plots of land to non-citizens, calling for a lasting solution to the problem.

“Sometimes I wonder how Gambians even feel being minority in their own country or being so powerless in their own country. You cannot allow non-citizens of any country to have more powers in our own country,” said Hon. Mama Kandeh, member for Jimara constituency, while contributing to the motion on the adjournment debate.

According to Hon. Kandeh, the best areas in this country are given to non-citizens of this country. He charged that if citizens do not have the chance to buy land, they should be given the right to enjoy.

The Jimara constituency parliamentarian made reference to the plight of citizens who, he observed, although own companies here, are refused land to build their offices even after they request it.

This, he went on, is however not the case when it comes to dealing with foreigners on the issue of land. “Whenever foreigners come to this country, it is just like drinking water. I think Gambians should feel treated equally and feel being citizens of this country,” he opined.

Also contributing to the motion on the adjournment debate, Hon. Balanding K.K. Daffeh, member for Kiang Central, stated that land has become so expensive that even the average Gambian cannot acquire land.

He was quick to add that he is not against foreigners acquiring land but if things continue to persist, generations to come will end up without land in their own country and as a result, end up in renting.

“If we allow foreigners to come and buy land, the average Gambian from family heads downwards will end up without land unless given to them through some system of allocating land,” he added.

Hon. Daffeh therefore advised government to figure out ways of improving land procurement by making it commensurate with the earning capacity of the average Gambian. “If government is selling a plot of land from D300, 000 to D400, 000, I as a layman will sell for more than that. So government should try to discourage selling of land by reducing the high cost of land,” he noted.

For his part, Hon. Sidia Jatta, member for Wuli West, lamented what he called as people’s lack of respect for public property in the country. According to Hon. Jatta, because people tend to buy more land even though they have land given to them by government, it has become so difficult for an ordinary Gambian to buy land in most of the Kombos.

Speaking earlier, Hon. Fabakary Jatta, Majority Leader, said; “Noting that our beloved country is densely populated and has a small landscape, it is disheartening and would be timely to ensure a more efficient and judicial land orientation, bearing in mind the increased demand and pressure on our limited land resources.”