The
new Minister of the Interior, Mai Ahmed Fatty, has said that without property
security there will be no peace, and without peace there will be no
development.
“I
consider this responsibility very vital,” he said about his task of maintaining
peace and security in the country.
He
made these remarks while speaking to journalists, shortly after being sworn in
on Wednesday at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
“But
I am confident that with my cabinet colleagues and all Gambians and friends of
The Gambia and those living in our territories, we will ensure that The Gambia
remains a peaceful and stable country; that the Gambia remains a compassionate
nation where everybody, regardless of who you are and where you come from, will
be able to live according to your means and abilities and the opportunities
that are available.”
Minister
Fatty further explained that the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) was first
created by a decree, which, he said, was validated by the constitution which
defines the laws of The Gambia and includes the existing laws inclusive of the
decrees that were passed even by the then AFPRC.
These
laws, he said, came as an Act of parliament subsequently.
“As
a government that is grounded in the rule of law and constitutionality, we just
would not ban the NIA,” he said, pointing out that it was created by law.
The
president could not pronounce banning the NIA without going through the due
process, he said.
He
said the issue of the NIA would be looked at very closely and critically by
making sure that it is renamed and performs its role within the constitution
and within the laws.
The
whole Gambia would see a “huge change” as the functions and operational
activities of the NIA “will change fundamentally to serve the interest of the
Gambians”, and not as they used to know it, he added.
“As
the minister of Interior, let me declare here that the rule of fear is over in
this country,” he said, appealing to members of the police to act within the
dictates of the law, with no compromise.
Dilating
on his immediate plans as a minister, Mr Fatty said he would make a
comprehensive review of everything that was in stock.
“We
will reform; we will expand and we will introduce new policies to better serve;
and be more relevant to current threats facing our country,” he said.
