A NORTH-EAST man is urging Brits to boycott The Gambia as allegations of corruption, political unrest, land seizures and human rights atrocities are levied at the country’s government.

Darlington pensioner Roy Pattison was a regular visitor to The Gambia, having fostered a son there and helped to support and educate other children in the African country.

He is now encouraging tourists and business owners to stand up to The Gambia’s controversial president, Yahya Jammeh, by refusing to invest in the country until changes are made.

Outspoken Jammeh, who came to power in 1994 following a military coup, once threatened to behead homosexuals, claimed to have cured AIDS and last year, executed several political prisoners.

His regime has been under global scrutiny following alleged crackdowns on dissent and political opposition.

Last month, The Gambia withdrew from The Commonwealth, with Jammeh – the first leader to withdraw since Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe - stating that the country would “never be a member of any neo-colonial institution”.

Mr Pattison said: “It is my personal feeling that British people should boycott the country to send a message to their government that we are aware of what is happening.

“We put a stop to going to Gambia when we heard political prisoners were being killed and when my foster son told me his land and other land in the coastal area was being confiscated on a huge scale and without any compensation being offered.

“I do not want things to end up going the same way as in Zimbabwe. It is about human rights and somebody should make a stand.

“What worries me is that ordinary Gambian people will be the ones that suffer if the tourist trade is affected. It is a real dilemma, but what else can we do?”

A spokeswoman from the Foreign Office today confirmed they had reports of coastal properties being seized but said to date, they were not aware of British nationals or their businesses being affected.

The Foreign Office website warns tourists of increasing political tension and anti-UK sentiment in The Gambia.

PANEL:

Roy Pattison’s foster son – who will not be named for fear of reprisals – said: “My brother and I inherited land in the Gambia and have had some of it seized.

"The government has been demolishing properties along the coast and taking people’s property with no compensation and no way of claiming it back – if you try to, you will be arrested.

“They are taking land that has been there for generations and saying it is theirs and you cannot say anything or take them to court.

“Sometimes it is the only land people have and they lose everything. They must find refuge but there is no help or compensation.

“A lot are struggling. The economy is bad. The government say nothing is happening but they have money in their pockets while their people have nothing and no means of getting jobs, they are struggling to eat and live.

“It is not just Gambians. A British woman who built a hotel here had it taken from her. “I want the Western world to be aware of what is going on. Not enough is being done to highlight what people are going through.

“It is human abuse, you cannot say a word against the government. If my name is found out, I will not be allowed to return to the country and my life will be in danger.

“People are being arrested for no reason with no access to lawyers. Some of the stories are unbelievable, high profile celebrities are being arrested and educated people are being exiled.

“It is having a huge impact on the country and its people.”