Following the notice given to residents of Half Die in Banjul by Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) to vacate the area latest by 29th February 2008, residents of Half Die on Wednesday convened a meeting to deliberate on what they consider to be an unfair decision on the part of GPA. Speaker after speaker complained about the fact that the notice comes at a time when GPA has reneged on some of their promises made as part of the conditions for them to quit the homes they have inhabited for decades.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, Aji Fatou Bah conceded that GPA has allocated them land at Old Cape Road and even provided monetary compensation packages ranging from D800,000 to D3m depending on the size of the compounds and category of the land.

Mrs. Bah claimed that before the allocation, GPA promised to clear the area and ensure the extension and installation of water and electricity services before the commencement of construction. She however bemoaned that up till then GPA was yet to make good that obligation, noting that unless GPA did exactly that, they would find it difficult to leave their present abode. “It will be very difficult for us to start if the promises are not fulfilled as agreed,” she stated.

She appealed to GPA to give them an extension of one-year in order to complete work at the new place. She called on President Jammeh to come to their aid, saying that if not they would become homeless on account of the short notice.

When contacted to shed light on the issue, the Managing Director of GPA, Momodou Lamin Gibba, admitted that issues about relocation of people has never ceased to be a problem. “We have held series of meetings with the communities and the negotiation took us four years before coming to an agreement,” he stated, adding that GPA even had hired a consultant who has done his work and valued the compounds based on their size and payments were made to the residents after the allocation of land to them. He noted that on the agreement of sale, which they all signed and agreed, it was agreed that they should vacate the property within six months of the sale, and this was between June/July 2007.

For his part Pierre Gomez, Director of Technical Services GPA, said that in addition to the six months they even added an extra three-month extension, which will end on 29th February. “We have been really flexible,” he reasoned.

Mr Gomez conceded that during the negotiation they informed the that GPA would facilitate the extension of social amenities like water, electricity and telephone, noting that they have in fact written to NAWEC and GAMTEL to that effect.

He said that in addition GPA also agreed to undertake the financing of basic roads and drainage system for the new area. “We have again sent a reminder to both NAWEC and GAMTEL to speed up the process,” he said. He said that out of the 34 compounds affected, they were able to secure 26 properties.