By Makutu Manneh
Momodou Charreh Gibba, the Councilor for Gunjur Ward together with Abie Bangura, the Councilor for Banjulinding Ward, and Lamin Jarju, a former Councilor for Marakissa Ward, on Monday, 19 August 2024 explained before members of the Local Government Commission of Inquiry the ‘salibo’ allowances they received during Koriteh and Tobaski feast celebrations from the Brikama Area Council (BAC).
According to them, this was given to Councilors as an honorarium. However, in the statement of witness Gibba, this was a ‘salibo’ they received during Koriteh and Tobaski feasts, but witness Jarju expressed the contrary before Commissioners, saying he did not expect this was a ‘Salibo’, but was told that this is how they called it at the Council.
On her part, Ms. Bangura said it was the Councilors who discussed among themselves and approached the Chairperson for them to receive this benefit, but said the matter was never discussed at a general council meeting.
Witness Gibba told Commissioners that as a newly elected Councilor in 2018, members of the market and finance committees accompanied revenue collectors for collection and Councilors received an honorarium for the feasts on this basis. He told the Commission that this cannot be termed as honorarium, but witness Jarju denied it.
When asked if he also received allowances, witness Jarju replied in the positive saying this was at the end of every month and increased as the years went by. The Commissioners asked him to provide them with details of how much he received from 2018 to 2023. Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez asked the witness if receiving this ‘salibo’ allowance was correct and the witness replied that it was not right. He however added that at the time of receiving these monies, he did not know that it was not right.
“This was the norm and tradition we met there, and it was the information provided to me as a new councilor,” witness Jarju said.
He said 2023 was the last time he received such an allowance and he cannot recall how much it was. When asked if receiving this ‘salibo’ was discussed at a general council meeting, the witness said the following: “Not to my knowledge. I have never attended or witnessed a discussion to this effect but only during informal discussions with colleagues at the Council.”
He told Commissioners that in his capacity, he does not consider this as an honorarium and equally agreed that it should be refunded. Mr. Jarju also provided the same reason to Commissioners as to why they were receiving these monies. He said he was part of the finance committee, adding that they receive these monies when they supervise and assess revenue collectors.
“This amount is paid to you twice a year. There is no justification for it you know. So what I expected you guys to do is to do the most honorable thing and expect you to admit where you were wrong,” Lead Counsel Gomez told him.
Jarjue was asked to provide the Commission with the amount he was paid between 2018 and 2023, and for what he has done to deserve it.
Ms. Bangura said she never knew this was wrong until now. She said during her first term as a Councilor, she benefited from this money once, and later, only ten Councilors received the money because the management of the council told them there was no money.
“I first received six thousand Dalasi and this later increased to ten thousand Dalasi,” she testified.
Geology Funds:
Witness Gibba informed the Commission that it was during one of the Council meetings that they were told that the Council received seven million Dalasi from the Government as ‘geology’ fund. He said at this meeting, the Council decided to disburse the money between the Councilors of Kombo South and the agreement was for Gunjur, Kartong, and Sanyang to be the beneficiaries.
The witness further informed Commissioners that the Council was supposed to give them two million Dalasi and said this money was disbursed in two phases. He said they first received D1.5 Million Dalasi in 2021 and in 2022, they were given D500,000.00.
The Commission, however, noted that the Council received the geology funds in 2020, but the money was paid to Gunjur Ward in 2021 and 2022.
Witness Gibba said he cannot tell how much of the geology fund was received by the Council in 2023.
“We were not directed to use the funds for a specific intervention area. The money was used in Sambouya village, because this is where mining was taking place actively and it was the most affected area in the region,” witness Gibba said.
Lamin Jarju testified that from 2018 to 2023, his ward did not benefit from any Ward Development projects, allocations, or the ‘geology’ funds from the Brikama Area Council.
“We only benefited from the COVID-19 food aid from the Council,” he said.
Lady Councilor Abie Bangura said her Ward was allocated D500,000.00 with which she constructed a market shed, adding that the community added D8,000.00 to the above amount towards this work.
“The work is still not done, but the women continue to use the market. Sarja Saidykhan was contracted to build the market for D508,000.00,” she said.
Sitting continues.
