Residents of the Busumbala and Old Yundum constituencies met with government officials on Thursday, 15 October 2026. The meeting addressed ongoing concerns regarding infrastructure and land reform in the West Coast Region. Attendees discussed the impact of current development policies on local communities and presented formal petitions to the government representatives present. Officials documented the grievances shared by the residents during the session to determine the next steps for policy review.
Urgent Need for Healthcare
Mrs. Jack Ceesay addressed the lack of medical facilities in the constituency during the meeting. She stated, "Old Yundum has 14 big villages and there is no hospital here. Women go all the way to Bundung or Faji Kunda for their deliveries." Residents currently lack local access to essential healthcare services, which necessitates travel to these distant facilities for childbirth. To address this deficiency, Mrs. Jack Ceesay confirmed that the community has already set aside a 100-by-200-metre plot of land for a proposed hospital in Old Yundum. The allocation of this site serves as a formal proposal to the government to improve health infrastructure for the local population.
Infrastructure and Sports Development
Jabang Alkalo Gibiril Colley submitted a formal request for infrastructure improvements to the Sare Pateh–Coastal Road, the Jabang–Labakore Road, and the IG Junction–Yuna Road. These road networks remain a priority for residents seeking better connectivity within the region.
Yusupha Gomez, a community opinion leader, requested the construction of standard mini-stadiums in Lamin and Busumbala to support local youth activities. Regarding the Lamin project, Yusupha Gomez stated, "A land has already been provided in Lamin and we believe government will develop it into a standard football field like O.J. Jallow Memorial Field in Bakoteh."
Land management issues continue to dominate administrative proceedings in the area. Ousman Gaye, Chief of Old Yundum, noted the high volume of property-related conflicts. Ousman Gaye said, "Ninety-nine per cent of cases handled by chiefs in Kombo relate to land disputes."
Youth representative Babou John emphasized the urgency of settling these ownership conflicts to ensure stable community growth. Babou John remarked, "Jabang is not a young village in the country. We are therefore calling on authorities to help us resolve this land disputes once and for all." Residents maintain that the lack of formal land resolution hinders the development of essential infrastructure and long-term community planning. Government representatives documented these requests alongside the petitions for road construction and sports facilities for further assessment.
