Bakary ‘Bakso’ Jaiteh, general coordinator and APRC national mobiliser, has defended President Barrow's right to acquire and build a retirement home on land in The Gambia, amid public scrutiny. Jaiteh asserted that the President followed legitimate processes to obtain the property, dismissing claims of impropriety.
"President Barrow has the right to look at any land anywhere in this country and build his retirement home," Jaiteh stated, adding, "There is no law in our statute books that one can call upon to take away the land from President Barrow." He further emphasized that the President has the financial capacity for the construction, claiming, "Not one butut from the government has been expended on building this mansion." Jaiteh criticized those questioning the development, suggesting it stems from "jealousy that is eating at the fabric of our Gambian society." He concluded that "whatever court one goes to, no one can take this home from President Barrow. He was not gifted the land by the lands minister. He followed the legitimate route to acquire the property."
Legal Basis for Land Ownership
Bakary Jaiteh, general coordinator and APRC national mobiliser, asserted that government agencies possess the authority to allocate land, reclaim it, and re-allocate it following a change of use notice. "We all know that government can give out land, re-enter it and re-allocate it with a change of use notice," Jaiteh stated, emphasizing that "President Barrow has the legal right to own and build in this place." He also linked criticism of the president's property to "the jealousy that is eating at the fabric of our Gambian society as personified by Pa Njie ‘Girigara’," identifying Pa Njie ‘Girigara’ as a prominent supporter of President Barrow. Jaiteh further explained President Barrow's aspirations, saying the president "wants to rule the country, retire in peace, and continue to live in peace in the country."
Accusations and Counter-Claims
Pa Njie ‘Girigara’ released an audio last week, advising President Barrow to return land on which he is constructing a mansion by the Fajara coastline. Following this, Bakary Jaiteh stated that Pa Njie should issue a public apology to the president. Jaiteh emphasized that President Barrow has the legal right to own and build at this location. "President Barrow has the legal right to own and build in this place," Jaiteh asserted, adding, "Whatever court one goes to, no one can take this home from President Barrow. He was not gifted the land by the lands minister. He followed the legitimate route to acquire the property." Jaiteh also addressed the financial aspects, stating, "Not one butut from the government has been expended on building this mansion." He attributed the criticism to "the jealousy that is eating at the fabric of our Gambian society as personified by Pa Njie ‘Girigara’."
Supporter's Defense and Demands
Bakary Jaiteh, general coordinator and APRC national mobiliser, accused Pa Njie ‘Girigara’ of pretending to be an ally of President Barrow. Jaiteh stated, "Considering how advanced you are in age, it is disappointing that you beat about the bush and skirt around the truth just to peddle falsehood." He reiterated that President Barrow "has the legal right to own and build in this place," asserting that "whatever court one goes to, no one can take this home from President Barrow." Jaiteh emphasized that the president "followed the legitimate route to acquire the property," not receiving the land as a gift from the lands minister.
Jaiteh maintained that "not one butut from the government has been expended on building this mansion," adding that President Barrow possesses "the means and the support or connections to build the mansion he is building." He encouraged an audit, stating, "Do your audit, check the books and see whether he is purloining from the state to build his home." Jaiteh also cited former president Jawara, whose family still retains a nearby home. "Even in America, the state provides former heads of state with retirement homes," Jaiteh said. "Former president Jawara has a home nearby that is still with his family. Did he buy that land?"