In June 2017, the Kololi women gardeners pleaded with the government to help them stay in the garden after they were given two months ultimatum by GAM Petroleum to vacate.
However, at a press briefing yesterday, women gathered to express how disappointed they were with the government over the sale of the land.
In his emotional address, the alkalo of Kololi, Abdoulie Joof, stressed that they filed a petition to the Office of the President during the second republic just to retain the land for their women to do their gardening activities for their own well-being and betterment of the country.
Amie Mendy, a woman in her 60s, asserted that they have been forcefully evicted from their only source of income and livelihood, saying this cuts virtually most of their social and economic abilities.
Ward Councillor Peter Mendy alleged that the community of Kololi for years has not been benefiting from any natural resource the community is blessed with since the coming of the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBord).
He added it would have been even better had the government sold the said land to a Gambian; as both infrastructural development and the money generated would help boost the country’s economy.
Njie Seghore and Awa Ceesay also echoed similar sentiments.
Sheikh Amma Jaiteh, the prominent Islamic scholar underscored the importance of justice and fairness in preventing conflict.
"These women are defiant that they will employ all measures to regain the land and threatened to come out to protest peacefully if the authorities fail to take action."
