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Citizens, Ricks Institute tussle over land |
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Written by Robert J. Clarke, Jr.
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Wednesday, 15 October 2008 |
Citizens of Mameh Town in Brewerville have accused the administration of the Baptist-run Ricks Institute of stalling development in their area.
A spokesman of the citizens told reporters the Ricks administration is in the constant habit of hampering them when they decide to undertake a project.
Mr. Karmoh Dukuly said the administration claims ownership of their land, thereby discouraging potential programs to develop it.
Mr. Dukuly narrated that a piece of land recently given to the LRRRC by the people of Mameh for reintegration of refugees is now being claimed by Ricks.
According to him, they have fifty acres which was legalized since 1905 but is now being claimed by the school.
He recalled that when President Tolbert as President of the Baptist Convention, the school brought in some white missionaries to map the Mameh Clan.
Mr. Dukuly said it is this mapping that Ricks is holding on, to take the people’s land from them.
He called on government to swiftly intervene as the people of Mameh would not sit to see their land being taken from them.
When contacted, the administration of the Ricks Institute says it has no intension of taking any land that does not belong to it.
The Principal of the school, Rev. Olu Menjay said Ricks Institute owns one thousand two hundred acres of land in the area.
Rev. Menjay alleged the Mameh Town people illegally gave twenty-eight acres of the school’s land to the LRRRC to build what he called refugee colony.
Rev. Menjay argued the bringing of the refugees in the area would hamper the sacred learning condition of the students.
The Principal said if effort to stop the building the refugee colony fails, the Baptist Convention would have no other alternative but to close the school down.
Rev. Menjay clarified the school is not against the refugees but it is unthinkable to have a refugee center near the school.
He said the school will not relinquish on the farsightedness of its founding fathers to have the land given to the LRRRC.
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