Senior
officers of the Gambia Police Force on Wednesday underwent a capacity building
training course on environmental legislations and policies meant for tougher
enforcement of the statutes.
The
daylong training activity was organized by the National Environment Agency
(NEA) at its headquarters in Kanifing.
Speaking
on the occasion, NEA Executive Director Ndey Sireng Bakurin said the
environmental rules and standards were set to help maintain thresholds that are
recognised the world over.
“Your
roles in maintaining these rules are paramount and unavoidable,” Mrs Bakurin
said.
However,
she noted that the training course marked “a quantum leap forward” in the
enforcement of the rules that are meant to invoke sanity in the efforts to
build an environmentally-conscious community in The Gambia.
“Today,
the NEA is a proud institution for the fact that the collaboration with the
police is geared to mark a new turning point in putting to use the rules and
regulations that were honourably enacted to help us live a sustainable
lifestyle as required by evolution.”
The
training course is expected to avail the senior police officers details of the
laws and regulations, as well as guidelines to protect the environment.
“We
believe this training will set the benchmark that all can take reference from
in the enforcement of environmental laws,” Mrs Bakurin continued.
“Sustaining
this kind of partnership over a long period requires dedication, and I commend
the security services for their efforts and commitment to work with us for the
benefit of our health and environment.”
The
NEA official said dialogue and engagement with the security services is crucial
in helping the agency to fulfill its mandate effectively.
She
added that protection of the environment and good environmental management can
only be attained by compliance with environmental laws.
“Even
the police alone could not do this without public participation,” she
continued.
Mrs
Bakurin said the NEA and the judiciary continue to work together on the special
environmental courts initiated for a speedy prosecution of environmental
offenders.
She
further stated that the future strategy to promote effective enforcement of
environmental law in The Gambia may involve strengthening the institutional
capacity to manage and enforce environmental laws, improving the legal and
regulatory environmental framework and increasing public awareness and
participation.
