The alkalo of Kololi Bai Abdoulie Joof was in tears today during a press conference at the town’s community garden that the government has earmarked for a an industrial complex. 

The community garden is used predominantly by women in the area who depend on it for their livelihood. 

The women and their supporters are angry that the government is seizing their land against their will. 

They described the process as an abuse of power by “selfish people” determined to deprive poor women gardeners of their only source of income.

Bai Joof told reporters that the residents will take to street to express their anger if the government continue destroying parts of the garden.

“We have fought to maintain this area for a long period. I can remember in the Second Republic (Jammeh administration) we’ve written a petition to the Office of the President just to make sure this place is maintained for these poor women. 

“People who have billions, people who are living in luxury buildings, people who are driving flashy cars are trying to take from these poor people their source of survival. It’s very sad,” he said in tears.

“What these women get here is what they feed their families. It’s what they pay the school fees of their children and many other things, and you just want to come and take away this place from them for your selfish interest. 

“Kololi doesn’t benefit anything from Tourism Development Area (TDA) because this place is our land, but we don’t benefit anything from it” he added.

“If they take this place from these women by force, we will protest the action on the street to vent our anger. It’s only in the Gambia I see people will be suppressed and they still accept it, and protest is your civic rights to express yourself. 

“We are poor people who have nothing to fight with, but we can go to the street to express ourselves,” he continued.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba