The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) is said to be absent yet again at a schedule meeting between them, the communities of Bakoteh / Manjai and the Police.
By Madiba Singhateh
Sources have it that both council and the two communities were to discuss the issue on Saturday at police headquarters in Banjul.
This dialogue which has already taken place was held in the absence of the municipal authorities.
Mr. Abubacarr jeng, a representative of the two communities, said they attended the meeting in the presence of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mamadou Jobe
Mr. Jeng said what the two communities told DIG Jobe was that they did not create any tension or prevent dumping at the site.
Mr Jeng said what the two communities told DIG Jobe was the dumpsite has to be properly managed to prevent the communities from suffering from pollution of all sort as a result of it’s presence.
He said the two communities explained to DIG Jobe how pollution caused by the dumpsite, has rendered the waters from their wells undrinkable and wreaked havoc of all types of sickness and disease on the people.
Mr. Jeng said Municipal Council authorities, misled the police regarding the community’s stance on the issue of the dumpsite.
He added that the reason waste is randomly dumped in the municipality, is because the KMC does not want to take the responsibility of collecting and sorting out waste.
Mr. Jeng said the dumpsite will remain closed unless concrete action is taken regarding the proper management of the site.
After giving their side of the story to the police, Mr. Jeng said they were allowed to go.
When contacted by this reporter for further clarification of the issue, the Kanifing Municipal authorities could not be reached for comment regarding their absence from the said meeting.