Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court has said respect for elders is a deeply entrenched cultural and traditional value in The Gambia. He added that respect for elders, especially one’s parents is a moral obligation expected of any child.

Magistrate Jammeh made these assertions on Thursday before delivering a verdict in a case involving a mother and her daughter.

A resident of Latrikunda German last Thursday presented her case to the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court where she wanted the court to issue an order for her daughter’s eviction from her compound. Matty wanted her daughter, Jonkong Camara, out of her life because, according to her, Jonkong and her children had no regard for her aggravated by the insults she had to endure from Jonkong herself.

According to the mother, Jonkong used to call her names such as witch. But in Jonkong’s testimony, it was her mother herself who asked her to relocate from Kerr Serign to Latrikunda and that whenever she cooks, the mum wouldn’t eat.

"If I greet her, she wouldn’t reply and whenever I prepare food, she would refuse to eat," Jonkong told the court.

In his ruling however, the magistrate ordered that Jonkong be evicted from her mother’s compound lock, stock and barrel within one week and never to set foot there anymore since she’s no longer needed in the compound.