The BCC argues that the report does not represent any competent authority of the council.
Some concerned individuals of Kafuta recently wrote a letter of petition to the Brikama Area Council’s Conflict & Resolution Sub-committee alleging embezzlement of funds by the current VDC.
Those concerned have alleged the VDC of allocating financial benefits among themselves (executives), unlawful formation of a VDC, refusal to organise congress and the registration of the community’s business enterprise in their own interest.
The council in a letter of denial written to the community’s VDC on 1 December 2020 and signed by its spokesperson stated that “acting on the directives of the chairman, I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter with the above caption (sic) purported leaked VDC conflict resolution committee report on Kafuta VDC and the concerned citizens dated 29 November 2020.”
“Sequel to this, the Office of the Chairman registered his utter dismay to the leakage, as it does not represent the official and is not authorised by any competent authority of the council. To this effect, Office of the Chairman will take immediate measures to address this poor conduct,” the letter further states.
The Point in an interview with the council’s spokesperson, Lamin Singhateh, said the leaked recommendation report on the village’s VDC has no official representation of Brikama Area Council, adding that no final decision can be made by the Conflict Resolution Sub-committee without passing through the general wards council for a decisive scrutiny.
“All what I can tell you is that the council’s sub-committee responsible for the welfare and matters of Ward Development Committee and Village Development Committee Conflict Resolution cannot have a concluding stance on any matter without going through the general council for a final decision.
So the purported leaked report recommendation on the community’s VDC is totally unauthorised by the council.
So the official signed letter sent to the village’s VDC is to make out points clear that the leaked recommendation report is unofficial and does not represent the authority of BAC.”
“We were very surprised after seeing the publication of an alleged community’s VDC report recommendation crisis on freedom newspaper, which does not even represent the council. The council will not be quiet over the issue but will probe into this unlawful act as investigations into the Village’s VDC crisis is yet to be finalised,” he said.
However, the VDC over the weekend convened a press conference denying allegations of mismanagement of funds, unlawful formation as VDC and registration of community’s mining area on their own behalf.
Malang Jatta, chairman of the ‘embattled’ VDC, refutes accusations leveled against his committee as baseless, adding that no clear information was harnessed by the said concerned citizens of the village on various accusations put against the VDC.
