The Brikama Area Council officials have agreed to meet up with #OccupyBAC protesters and to dialogue with them with the view of resolving the group’s grievances amicably.

The council’s director of Administration and Public Relations Officer, Ebrima Sawaneh, said that the council has extended an olive branch to the protesters and agreed a meeting to discuss the group’s demands.

Mr. Sawaneh said the council will look into their demands and see which of them fall under their mandate, adding that some of the group’s demands do not fall under their purview as a council.

“We have received their petition and we are going to invite them for talks and then we will try to tell them our mandate as a council,” he said.

He acknowledged that the council is currently facing difficulties for the provision of some of the social services to the people of the region; as most of their sources of income have been taken away by the Central government.

Mr Sawaneh outlined revenue collection, sand mining, car park fees, cattle tax and bill boards fees as all currently under the control of the National Roads Authority.

The #OccupyBAC protesters on Wednesday July 24, took to the streets, demanding better social services, good roads, standard market facilities, proper waste collection system, good drainage, and other social amenities.

The protest became violent when anti-riot police officers from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) attempted to disperse the crowd with tear gas and batons. Many of the protesters were injured and several arrests made.