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Gambia hosts 1st BAGAIA Commission meeting

Sep 21, 2016, 10:12 AM | Article By: Njie Baldeh

International delegates from the sub-region have started a four-day meeting of the first Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency Commission (1st BAGAIA) in Banjul organised by the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority.

Delivering his opening statement yesterday, Works and Transport minister Dodou Bammy Jagne welcomed the delegates to the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency Commission meeting.

He said a lot had been achieved since the inception of the Banjul Accord, adding that some of those achievements would be reported by the various centres during the course of the deliberation.

“I am pleased to note that six (6) of the seven BAG countries have nominated members to the commission in accordance with Article 8 (3),” Minister Jagne said.

“I have nominated retired Colonel Lawrence Jarra for The Gambia to the Commission. I am sure he will be an active member for the implementation of BAGAIA and its aims and objectives,” he added.

According to Minister Jagne, the meeting will be rolled out with an ambitious agenda to accomplish a full and timely implementation of BAGAIA.

“The discussion on a possible enlargement of BAGAIA to cover other countries in West and Central Africa is also an interesting initiative,” he added.

Minister Jagne said the need for individual countries to establish independent accident investigation units calls for significant resources.

The investment requirement seemed to outweigh the resources available, he said, adding that a regional accident investigation organisation caters for and eliminates the duplication of efforts by pooling human technical and financial resources.

“It facilitates the recruitment and retainment of investigators to gain experience more quickly, he said.

Gambia Civil Aviation Authority’s acting director general Babucarr Cham, in his remarks on the occasion, said when BAGAIA Commission was formed in Banjul about twenty years ago, it is to be recognised as a reliable vehicle for bringing about positive change in the aviation industry both within the region and the world at large.

The pioneers at that time because they were aware of the responsibility ahead of time, had continued to work tirelessly towards the collective good, he noted.

The Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) was very grateful to host the first meeting of the BAGAIA Commission in The Gambia, he said, adding that the authority would like to assure all stakeholders of GCCA’s support towards the success of the meeting and related activities in the future.

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