By Lamin Njie
The Gambia government has refused to give Global HOMM its property in Bijilo, five months after a court ordered a return of the property.
Humanitarian group, Global HOMM fought a court case together with the Gambia government over a property it owns in Bijilo. The land had been scheduled to lodge a clinic to provide long-term medical care for The Gambia.
But in 2010 however, the Jammeh administration had abruptly kicked Global HOMM out of the country after it was accused of taking money from people and not giving them the medical service that they need. The Jammeh government then quickly gained control of the group’s property in Bijilo.
Global HOMM returned to the country seven years later, in 2017 and went ahead to claim its Bijilo property. The property – a vast land – was previously being occupied by former President Jammeh’s ‘Green Boys’. Police anti-crime unit are now the new occupants of the property.
In a statement shared with The Fatu Network, the organisation said “several meeting were held with the Minister of Local Government and Lands as well as the Attorney General coupled with letters written to them, the Minister of the Interior and the Director of Lands to facilitate the return of the Mission’s property but nothing came out of it.”
“In fact attempts to even pay the outstanding land rent for the property was refused by the Director of Lands on the representation he has been instructed not to receive any such payment from Global HOMM. In effect all attempts to recover the property failed,” the organisation said.
The organisation’s statement continued: “Consequently the Mission decided that it was necessary to seek redress in the Courts and therefore commenced legal action in March, 2019 against the State claiming for possession of the Mission’s property and that the payment of Land rent be received by the relevant authority. In September 2019, judgement was given in favour of Global HOMM and an order was made for Global HOMM to be given possession of the said property following the State’s admission in Court that the said property remains the property of Global HOMM.
“Notwithstanding the notice and receipt of the Writ Of Possession by the Sheriff of The Gambia pursuant to the judgement dated 12th September 2019 of the Kanifing Magistrate Court; notification by the Sheriff to the Defendants, (Inspector General Of Police, 1st Defendant; Minister For The Interior, 2nd Defendant; Director For Lands & Surveys, 3rd Defendant; Attorney General, 4th Defendant); Application and notice to the Registrar for the issue of the Certificate of Order against the State; issuance of Certificate of Order Against The State from the Registrar of The Magistrates’ Court to the State; Global HOMM has yet to given possession of all that property situated at Bijilo in the Kombo North District of the West Coast Region of The Gambia.
“Global HOMM through its lawyer subsequently met with the Sheriff of The Gambia, the Chief Justice, the Minister of Local Government and Lands as well as the Inspector General of Police and requested that the Judgement of the Court be complied with but Global HOMM still continues to be dispossessed and deprived of its property.
“It has become apparent to the Mission that the very persons whose paramount duty is to uphold the Constitution of The Gambia, protect the law and abide by judgments of the Courts are the very ones violating the law and most importantly the Constitution which protects the right to property. ‘What an irony’. The Sheriff of The Gambia is helpless because he is unable to get the support of the Police to evict its people.
“It has been over five months since the Court ordered the State to give Global HOMM possession of its property. The wheel of Justice is turning and Global HOMM is expectant for the rule of Law to prevail. Let Justice not be delayed nor denied any longer. Let the healing continue for the people of The Gambia and beyond.”
