Kawsu Darboe made this allegation during the village’s annual general meeting (AGM) organised by the 14 Kabilos (wards) in the settlement.

The four-hour meeting availed the villagers the opportunity to make their voices heard, highlight their constraints and challenges, and find ways to address them.

During the meeting, Darboe listed the amount of money that went missing in the hands of the former VDC executive. He saidin addition, the sum of D61, 000 that was brought to them by one Kalie Konteh for the village water project is alsomissing.

“Also, 3, 500 Euros that was given to them [former VDC]to support the lower basic school was misplaced as well as other monies that were meant for the Community Revolving Fund,” he added.

Darboe lamented that it is now difficult for the women of the area to have access to clean drinking water. He said that the matter has been reported to the Offices of the Governor of West Coast Region, and Inspector General of Police, among other relevant stakeholders, but to no avail. He said that they must do something or the villagers will unanimously agree to come out with their own action.

“The money missing is huge and belongs to the villagers and there cannot be any sustainable development without the said amount of money,” he stressed.

He continued: “We want the government to intervene in our matter or else we the villagers are coming out with action. We want the former VDC committee to bring the said amount of money out.”

Darboe said that there are 17 properties that should be handed over to thenewVDC executive but are yet to be handed over. According to him, certain people are using the said properties for their personal interest.

He continued: “The items include the Child Fund Federation Centre, one tractor, the VISACA, health post, the lower and senior school, day care centre, two ambulances, a van that was donated by the president, the CCF garden site, the village market, the CRS site, the borehole site, the money donated to the lower basic school by couple philanthropists -Wim Moller from Holland and wife Wim Grect, one solar cooker, materials brought by Bellac in April, one Mini-truck, bicycles, two with materials and also D5, 000 which was given to them by CCF to support the Fisheries Project.”

He finally urged the relevant authorities to help them recover all these materials to enable the village embark on its development programmes.

For his part, Lamin Camara, the secretary generalVDC dilated on the problems the villagers are encountering. He said that there is no village or VDC in the West Coast Region that is not aware of the problem the people of Siffoe are encountering.

“We want the Gambian leader to be aware of our problem, because we are tired and we need a lasting solution to all these matter or else we will take personal action,” he said.

Lamin Camara, a member of the water committee, Bakary Jassey of the health committee and one Malang Konteh expressed similar sentiments.

The formerVDC executive could not be reached at the time of going to press for possible reaction towards the allegations levied against them. All efforts would be made to get their side of the story.