The Deputy Mayor of Banjul, Aziz Dabakh Gaye, has issued a sharp rebuke against a proposed move to shift the management and security of McCarthy Square to the Office of the President, calling it both “misguided” and “legally untenable.”
In a strongly worded statement, the Deputy Mayor argued that the Banjul City Council (BCC) holds unequivocal authority over the public space under the Local Government Act of 2002, dismissing claims that recent financial contributions to its renovation for the 60th Independence Anniversary justify the transfer.
“The financial contribution does not, under any circumstance, diminish or override the legal mandate granted to BCC,” the Deputy Mayor declared, emphasizing the Council’s long-standing investment in McCarthy Square. “Over the years, our commitment—in terms of time and resources—far exceeds the costs of the recent renovation. This is a space we have consistently maintained and developed for the people of Banjul.”
McCarthy Square, a historic public venue in the heart of the capital, has long been a hub for cultural, civic, and community activities, contributing to the city’s vibrant identity.
The Deputy Mayor underscored its role as a public asset, managed by BCC, to serve the interests of Banjul’s residents, not the central government.
The statement comes amid growing tensions between local and national authorities over the control of key public spaces. The Deputy Mayor vowed to pursue “all necessary legal and procedural steps” to formally challenge the proposal and reassert BCC’s jurisdiction. “We will not stand by while our rightful position is undermined,” the BCC official added.
In a call for de-escalation, the Deputy Mayor urged the relevant authorities to reconsider the plan and open “immediate dialogue” with BCC. “We are committed to upholding the law, safeguarding local governance, and ensuring McCarthy Square remains where it belongs—under the management of those legally entrusted with it,” the statement concluded.
The controversy has sparked debate among Banjul residents, with many awaiting the government’s response to the Deputy Mayor’s firm stance. As the situation unfolds, McCarthy Square’s fate hangs in the balance, testing the boundaries of local autonomy in the face of centralized authority.
