Defence Minister, Sheikh Omar Faye has underscored
the significance of peace, maintaining thatimplementing the Security Sector
Reform (SSR) and ensuring that Gambia remains peacefulare among some of his top
priorities.
He
was speaking to journalists Tuesday morning at the Ferry Terminal in Banjul as
he commenced a nationwide tour to military installations and meeting local
authorities in the country. He is on the tour with the Chief of Defence Staff
of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) Lieutenant General Masanneh N.Kinteh.
“My
priorities are to ensure that The Gambia becomes one of the safest and best
places in the world. That’s what the President wants and that’s what we also
want. We want Gambia to be peaceful so that there can be development,” Mr Faye
said.
“You
can have all the gold, the diamond and all the petrol but if you don’t have
peace, your country will not be stable. So, the President wants all Gambians to
be at peace and that’s what we are all doing. It’s been very difficult for some
couple of decades, thus we want to repair and look for avenues for redress and
start moving forward.”
According
to him, ECOMIG Forces are in the country to help in the maintenance of peace
just like the way Gambian security personnel are doing in Darfur, Liberia,
Sudan and other parts of the world.
He
said they are looking at the territorial integrity of the country and to ensure
that they consolidate on the gains and make Gambians informed that they have to
be peaceful and they have to watch their backs and protect their country.
Defence
Minister Faye said security starts from everywhere, saying it is every
Gambian’s duty to report cases that are detrimental to the country to law
enforcement officers.
“Our
security sector policies are in place so we are putting up lot of other
strategies and we also have cabinet support and the steering committee and the
entire sister services.”
He
said the fourth estate; the media should play a crucial role towards the
maintenance of peace and stability in the country. “If you say it’s good, the
country will look at it as good and if you misinform, it’s not good for the
country. Let’s work together as family and sensitise the public so that
Gambians will understand what is going on,” he stated.
Lieutenant
General Masanneh N. Kinteh, Chief of Defence Staff said the tourwillprovide the
opportunity to interact with personnel and get first-hand information on some
of the issues affecting them.
“We
would be able to communicate to our personnel to be able to assess their living
and working conditions and most importantly to be able to have the forum where
we can discuss frankly and roll out the new policies and guidelines of the
GAF.”
He
said they would also engage regional administrators and the civilian population
because security is a collective responsibility.
