Magistrate Mustapha A Camara of Kanifing Magistrate Court has warned shop owners at the Serrekunda market to be careful about renting the shops own by Kanifing Municipal Council to people, without the knowledge of the monitoring and evaluation committee of KMC.

Magistrate Camara made this statement last Saturday at KMC headquarters where members of the monitoring and evaluation committee of KMC meet to discussed issues affecting the market.

According to Magistrate Camara, over 95% of the shops in the market have been sold by individuals who have been using the shops before without the knowledge of the council. "This act means, they sold the property of government. Some of them even sold the shops for D20,000 and that is not fair" he said.

He then warned that any one found guilty of this act, the shop will be forfeited and he/she will face the law accordingly. For his part, Babou Gaye-Sonko, the councilor representing the business committee in KMC and chairman of the interview committee also confirmed the dubious acts ongoing at the Serrekunda market. He revealed that  they realised that some individuals are using the market shops to make money by selling or renting the shops. "You cannot sit at home without doing business in the market and want to collect rent with a huge amount of money which supposed to go to the council.

He further appealed to the general public to informed the committee of such practices. Pa Daniel Manchi  Mendy, chairman of the monitoring and evaluation committee said that there are 288 shops in the makret and they all belong to KMC. According to him, 9 years ago, the council gave out many shops to individuals but almost all of them are not using the shops now but rent or sold it out and is the property of the council.

He then made it clear that effective this January 2009, all shops will be increased and there will be payment in every three months. "Shops upstairs will increase from 200 to 500 and shops downstairs and the middle of the market will increase from 500 to 750 and all shops facing the highway from 700 to 1000.