A delegation of the Ministry of Lands and Regional Government, led by Permanent Secretary Buba Sanyang has recently headed to the Central River Region where they managed to resolve a long-standing land dispute between Medina and Taibatu villages. The delegation comprised of Deputy Permanent Secretary, Director of Department of Lands, team of technicians and security personnel.
Upon visiting the site, the mediating team had a buffer built between the two villages. The buffer would be under the state’s custody as part of efforts to enable peaceful coexistence between the two villages.
According to the records the over four-decade long dispute started as far back as 1977, when Taibatu extended its rice field thereby encroaching into some part of Medina’s land.
Speaking at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary advised the Alkalolu to abide by the ruling of the state and that if they have any grievances they should take the matter to the court rather than resort to violence. He also praised the Alkalolu for respecting their request of no-interference during the construction of the buffer.
The Chief Supt. Dembo Sanneh thanked both Alkalolu for their exemplary leadership by preventing their natives from interfering with the decision and work of the government.
The Governor of Upper River Region, Fanta Bojang Samateh Manneh also advised them to always turn to the courts for redress.
The long-standing rift between these two villages has had negative impact on their farming, as the dispute had recurred every rainy season. For the first time in many years both villages would peacefully work on their rice fields.
For a similar engagement, the Permanent Secretary and the delegation proceeded to Central River Regional where they met with the Alkalolu of Kuntaur and Jakaba over a land dispute. The aim of the visit was to find out about the nature of the problem for a possible sustainable solution.
The dispute is over the establishment of a dike which was claimed to have encroached into the rice fields of the people of Jakaba. The dike was to prevent Kuntaur from flooding as it did last year, destroying properties including houses.
The ministry will send a team of technicians to survey the rice fields to see how much of it has gone into the dike, the impact on the people of Jakaba and the way forward.