Pa Kalifa Sanyang, the human resource and public relations manager at the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) has disclosed to the Daily Observer that his council recently paid D300,000 as compensation to the Colley Kunda family of Tallinding for the acquisition of part of the family’s land for use as Tallinding Sicap Market.

Mr Sanyang added that the negotiations have been ongoing for the past few years, but the agreement was finally reached recently. He said that the move is in line with the council’s strategy to develop satellite markets, where there is space to deconjest the Serekunda Market.

According to PRO Sanyang, they have a vision to spread social amenities and facilities to every part of the municipality, which is also in line with the concept of development of the government of the day.

He then reiterated that KMC is a social investor, citing that they cater for a wide range of social activities at municipal and national level.

He then revealed that currently, the council is sponsoring more than 85 students drawn from the less fortunate families resident within the municipality.

He also emphasised that the council is equally making moves to ensure a regular and efficient waste management system with its meager resources, noting that this cannot happen overnight but that eventually with the suppport of the public and other stakeholders like the National Environment Agency, they will succeed in transforming Kanifing Municipality into one of the cleanest cities of modern times.

Mr Sanyang then urged tax payers to pay their dues regularly to enable the council to realise its development objectives.

“The council is squarely dependent on local revenue collected and as such, we cannot function if the populace fail to pay their taxes,” he concluded.