By Cheikh CAMARA (Correspondent in Thiès)

"Transparent and fair management of our commune's land resources." That is what the people of Fandène (Thiès department) are demanding through an open letter addressed to their mayor, former minister Dr. Augustin Tine, and their municipal councilors.

As citizens and stakeholders committed to the development of their homeland, they say they are following the progress of "new housing developments within our commune" with "particular attention." For them, "while urban expansion is a sign of dynamism, it must necessarily be accompanied by a fair redistribution of the resources it generates."

United under the collective "The Citizens of Fandène," local residents believe that two major priorities now require the mayor's attention and the allocation of funds from the sale of communal plots. First, support for the church in the village of Lalane.

They state that "the Lalane church is not just a religious building; it is the beating heart of a community and a symbol of our local identity. The municipality has a duty to support the institutions that structure the social life of our fellow citizens." According to them, it has become imperative to allocate concrete financial aid for the maintenance, development, and promotion of this site, in order to meet the legitimate expectations of the faithful and residents of Lalane.

Second, the residents highlight the urgent need for public lighting. For them, "the development of new housing developments must not be limited to simply marking out plots. Growing insecurity and the need for nighttime mobility make lighting in our localities an absolute priority." They therefore solemnly request that a clear and transparent portion of each plot sold be directly reinvested in installing solar streetlights in the areas most affected by darkness.

"The money from Fandène's land assets belongs to the community," the collective reminds, adding that it is the municipality's duty to transform this financial windfall into social infrastructure and basic services for all. They hope that this appeal will be heard and that concrete actions will follow for the good of Lalane and the entire commune.