Italy
yesterday donated 40 pickup trucks to The Gambia, as the two nations ponder
fresh endeavours to stem the problem of irregular migration.
The
Italian government is seeking the support of The Gambia in dealing with a
problem that has seen the country take in hundreds of thousands of migrants
including Gambians over many years.
The
vehicles are donated to the Gambia Immigration Department to boost the
department’s border security and migration management efforts.
And
at a handover ceremony held yesterday at the GID Irregular Migration Monitoring
Centre in Tanji, Interior Minister Mai Ahmad Fatty, presiding over the event,
said the development was in sync with the vision of President Adama Barrow.
Fatty
stated that, “The vision of the President is a Gambia that is strong; a Gambia
that is secure; a Gambia that is prosperous; a Gambia where her citizens can
build a strong and sustainable future; and a compassionate one where every
citizens can find her/his place.”
And
he added: “Beyond that, His Excellency believes in fostering greater
collaboration between The Gambia and nations. Our special relationship with
Italy is one of those that this government will nurture and will continue to
consolidate.
“We
believe that issues that confront nations generally are shared obligations that
every nation must contribute in its solution. Migration is just one issue.
Irregular migration is one of international concerns and The Gambia has a role
to play in its solution. That is why today is very significant. It is
significant because it demonstrates the commitment of two nations towards
resolving this imbroglio.”
Italy
has said it can no longer be expected to deal single-handedly with the vast
number of asylum seekers, most of them economic migrants, streaming across the
Mediterranean.
And
Minister Fatty who said The Gambia was ready to work with Italy on the issue
said a solution can be found.
He
said: “We have a vested interest in ensuring that conditions that are conducive
for keeping our nationals are evolved. The Italians and the Europeans have an
interest in ensuring that their borders are safe and people who travel to their
country go there through the legal route. Both sides have the moral and the
legal obligation to ensure lives are protected – and that people who embark on
these perilous journeys are protected.
“The
concern of the President is the lives that are lost along the way. This
government wants to do something about it. The evidence of our seriousness is
that we are now working to create a migration policy. It has never happened in
this country.
When
President Barrow was ushered in by the Gambian people, the Gambia had no
migration policy. The commitment of this government is reflected through the
validation of a migration profile. Consultations are ongoing among all
stakeholders both our local institutions and international partners such as IOM
and EU in order to build a very strong migration policy. That is the first
towards ending an endemic challenge. The consultation will be expansive and
thorough. We will come with a solution.
“The
President has made it clear to a visiting European delegation that for
migration to be stalled, the economy has to grow and we inherited a bankrupt
economy. The volume of our seriousness must match the compassionate
understanding of our partners.”
