By Sainey Darboe
Gunjur youths and activists have made good their vow to remove a waste pipe being used by the Chinese fishmeal processing factory, Golden Lead, to dispose of waste into the sea. The brazen move followed the expiry of a 7-day ultimatum by Gunjur youths and human rights activist Amadou Scattred Jammeh who warned: “Here’s a promise: if the pipe that is pumping waste into the sea at Gunjur Beach isn’t removed by Golden Lead by the deadline issued to the company, I will personally dismantle it and face any consequence. We will be acting within the law to remove a pipe erected in the public domain by a private entity at the detriment of our community.
Yes, we know about diplomacy, litigation, mediation, et cetera and continue to employ them as well”. Dozens of youths congregated at the site to dig out the pipe, amid renewed zeal to protect the environment. Reacting to the move, UK-trained scientist Ahmed Manjang who has been vocal on the matter, declared: “I salute the courage of our gallant youths, this generation is proving that they are not going be bullied and will stand up and be counted whenever needs arise. I have lost confidence in our legal system. We should organise massive demonstrations against the pillage of natural resources and environmental pollution”.
US-based activists, Tukulor Sey, said: “I am equally proud of our people. This is what good citizens do – protect their environment for the betterment of a nation! What happens in Gunjur will resonate across the entire region. Bravo!”
Also weighing in on the issue, US-based Gunjur-born Alhassan Darboe postulated: “This is super proactive of our youths to put their lives on the line out there to dig and uproot the evil menace and destruction Golden lead set out to perpetrate against our beautiful environment…”
