By: Binta Jaiteh
Dozens of Tallinding residents are demanding compensation from the government over the demolition of their compounds.
Speaking to some of the victims at Tallinding, Haddy Njie said the government came to demolish their compounds because of the -Jeshwang-Tallinding Road construction in March last year.
Haddy stressed that her fence was demolished which led to the destruction of her properties courtesy of heavy rain.
“We have been battling with this issue since March last year still the government has not made any move to compensate us,” Madam Njie nagged.
She said the rainy season is fast approaching and this year they don’t want to witness any disasters of last year adding that their properties were affected due to the demolition in this community, saying her fence was demolished.
“We are in a difficult situation as we speak and am wondering where to turn for assistance,” she argued.
She said the government did this but we cannot do anything because they have the powers.
“I think it will be ideal for the government to compensate us so that we can use whatever they give to feed our family. It is painful living in this kind of situation without any assistance,” she criticized.
Before the demolition of their properties, she said the government should have found an option for them because having their buildings or houses wide open without no fences makes them not safe and “prone to armed robbers.”
She, therefore, urged and pleaded with the government to act as soon as possible to address the situation. The country is in a critical situation and as a single mother, she said she is thinking of how to feed her family not how to buy cement to rebuild her compound.
Binta Darboe also highlighted the same challenge. According to her since the demolition took place they are opened to danger.
She tasked the government to address the situation before the rainy season if not more harm will be done.
For his part, Tijan Bah noted that the demolition exercise affected him and his family now they live in an open house.
He said the necessary information the government requested has been submitted still nothing is being done.
“We are tired of giving information without any solution, the situation now is very tense and as a family man I’m frustrated,” he said.
