Agriculture Minister Demba Sabally delivered a sharp rebuke to voters in the West Coast Region and the opposition figures they elected, accusing them of creating the very hardships they now complain about. He made the remarks on Sunday evening during a meeting in Brikama, part of President Adama Barrow’s ongoing nationwide tour.
Addressing a large gathering, Sabally said the region is “facing the consequences” of choosing opposition candidates at both the parliamentary and local government levels. He argued that those decisions have “come back to haunt” residents, claiming the officials they put in office are more focused on political fights than improving lives.
The Minister took particular aim at opposition MPs, saying they have shown more interest in obstructing government plans than working with the executive on programmes meant to benefit their constituencies. His remarks come at a time when the relationship between the executive and opposition-led local authorities remains tense, especially in areas where the ruling party has struggled to gain ground.
Sabally reserved his strongest words for Brikama Area Council Chairman Yankuba Darboe, accusing him of gross incompetence and failing to provide even basic services for communities in the region. He attacked the Council’s tax policies, describing them as punitive and unnecessary.
According to the Minister, the Council raised compound rates from about D200 to D2,000, a jump he characterised as “astronomical” and unfair. He argued that this has placed an extra burden on residents of the West Coast Region, making it the area with the highest levies in the country.
Despite these higher payments, he said the community has seen little improvement under Chairman Darboe. “With all these taxes, people still cannot point to meaningful development,” he told the crowd.
