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Haruna.


-----Original Message-----
From: Malanding Jaiteh <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thu, Mar 17, 2011 10:12 am
Subject: PS Manneh Testifies Before Lands Commission


            FYI
    Courtesy Foroyaa Online @    http://www.foroyaa.gm/modules/news/article.php?storyid=6385
    
    Malanding
    
    
PS Manneh Testifies Before Lands Commission
    Author: Publisher | Date: 16-03-11 | Topic: National      News
    
    By Lamin Sanyang
    The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government and    Lands Mr. Abdoulie Manneh appeared at the High Court on Monday 14th    March 2011, before the Lands Commission to clarify the allocation    and compensation of the main Sallaji and Nemasu layouts and the    functions of the National Planning Board.
    
    The PS was asked about the body that is responsible for the location    of a layout which he said is the Department of Physical Planning. He    was asked the factors put into consideration in identifying a    layout. He said that is a technical matter which he would not know    but he added that the location and purpose of the layout are    important. He was questioned about the functions of the National    Planning Board which he said deals with the Physical Planning at the    national level but said it is dormant. He said the reason is that    the authorities are not taking issues to the Board. He was told    whether his ministry has nothing to do with the Board. He said that    the ministry is represented at the Board. He was asked whether the    Planning authorities are functional which he answered in the    affirmative. He said the planning authority for Banjul and Kombo    Saint Mary’s are chaired by a private individual who has knowledge    and experience while the regional authorities are chaired by the    Governors. He said the planning authorities have the input as for    the planning of the draft.
    He was asked about the exhibition of the layouts, he said that all    the layouts have been exhibited. He was asked about the exhibition    of the Sallaji layout which he said he cannot remember but said that    the locals are informed. He was asked whether he is aware that the    customary owners are complaining that there was no exhibition. He    said that was not what he was informed. He was asked the person who    informed him. He said the Director of Physical Planning. He was    asked about the Director of Physical planning which he said he    cannot remember without checking the records. He was asked whether    the Nemasu and Tanjiring layouts were exhibited; he responded in the    positive. He said the complaints that came to the ministry would be    assessed. He said they are well verified and the planners would go    back to incorporate them.
    The Local government Permanent Secretary was asked about the    valuation for compensation which he said is the department of Lands    and Survey that is responsible. He was asked about the list of    compensation, and he said the ministry would do recommendation based    on the compensation available. He was asked whether he would approve    the list before it reaches the minister. He said that is correct. He    was asked whether they are responsible for the final list which he    answered in the affirmative. He said the main Sallaji layout was not    meant for compensation but the Cabinet has approved it for    allocation. He was told that some people at Sallaji are not    compensated. He said in some cases there is conflict of choice as    some would want land and others would prefer money for compensation    and that causes a lot of delay. He said another problem is that    people would claim ownership of one plot of land at the same time.    He argued that it would not be correct to say that none of the    people in Sallaji benefited from the compensation.
    At this juncture a bunch of documents was passed for him to check to    refresh his memory. He was told if Sallaji was a compensation layout    why the people of Nemasu are not given priority. He said his    understanding is that there is compensation and those who are not    compensated must have a reason which he would not know at that point    in time. He was asked whether he was not informed and he responded    in the affirmative. He was asked about the response and he said it    was failing. He was asked the reason for compensating 100 by 100    metres to 20 by 20 metres. He said the things that are considered in    valuation are the size, location and development. He said more    preference is given to leased land than the one that is not leased.    
    PS Manneh was asked about the compensation for M Sumareh whether the    local people were consulted. He said he would not know. He was told    whether he did not ask; he said he cannot recall without going    through the records. He was asked whether the planning authority    does approve layouts prepared by the Physical Planning. He said they    can only endorse and forward it to the ministry where it would go to    the cabinet. He said in the case of change of use the planning    authority is responsible. He said the Bijilo Extension A and C were    meant to create space available for the Land Sale Committee and for    compensation. He said it was approved by the minister without going    to the cabinet because it is relatively a small land. He said the    allotees have applied. He said it was not advertised because it is    not a layout. He was asked whether all the allotees in the main    Sallaji have applied and he said he cannot remember. 
    At this juncture, he was told that the Director of Lands and Survey    Malamin Jatta said that the National Assembly Members were allocated    without applying but instead a list was sent. He said there is a    policy that when a layout is about to be created, departments are    allowed to send list for allocation. He was asked whether the    National assembly has applied. He said when the list was sent to the    Director of Lands, it is for them to fill the form. He said it is    the technical department that is responsible for the allocation of    the various departments. It was put to him that the department of    Lands and Survey are allocated more than 45 plots in the Sallaji    layout. He said the reason could be that the department is bigger. 
    He said the Nemasu layout is mainly for allocation. He said there    was no re-entry since 2003. He said he is not sure whether there was    any change of use in the Nemasu layout. It was put to him that a    cemetery was changed for residential in Nemasu layout. He said that    is a surprise to him. He was told about the transfers in the Sallaji    layout without development. He said the documents would pass through    him and would verify whether it is developed or not before it would    be approved. He said re-entry in a layout is prescribed by the law.    He said it is not clearly stated in the Act what development means.    He said they are trying to contact the legal practitioners to    clarify the Act in terms of development. He said a notice of ninety    days should be given to the person before any re-entry is done.
    
    
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