This is indeed sad taking into account that the youth are the future leaders.
There should be national conference among all stakeholders with a view to addressing this ungodly phenomenon.
Mr. President, it’s indeed sad seeing most of our young people being involved in drug and other related illegal activities. In fact, there are reports that most of the patients admitted at the country’s only psychiatric hospital are there as a result of drug related issues. Therefore, the Drug Law Enforcement Agency The Gambia (DLEAG), the police, the National Youth Council, religious and opinion leaders should take the lead in this national discussion. We must not allow our young people to be consumed by drug related issues which of course contribute to a lot of the crime in the country.
Mr. President, the Community Policing Unit of the GPF and the Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the DLEAG should indeed be empowered. They should be given enough resources in ensuring that they carry out their functions effectively. The police and other security personnel units equally can’t do it all. As parents, we should also take the lead role in ensuring that we bring our children up responsibly so that they can contribute immensely to nation building. The police and other security personnel can’t be everywhere. Therefore, all hands must be on deck if we are serious about fighting crimes and other related activities in the country.
Another issue that should be critically looked into is the issue of young people going armed in public with dangerous items especially with knives, scissors among others. We believe there should be some kind of control mechanism.
Mr. President, another issue that’s currently causing pandemonium in the country is about the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) among children under 5 years of age in The Gambia which resulted in the death of dozens of children. We therefore welcome the news about some medical personnel coming from the U.S.A. with the objectives of helping the government with their investigations in establishing the causes of this disease. The Ministry of Health recently issued a statement indicating that the possible causes of the Acute Kidney Injury are E. Colin and possible toxicity from syrup Paracetamol. Therefore, the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) should work with the police in ensuring that the importers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers of all brands of paracetamol syrups don’t bring it into the country. The public should also endeavour and help the relevant government institutions in ensuring that paracetamol syrup which is currently banned in the country, is neither imported nor sold in the country. Pharmacy owners should also not look at the issue of their business striving alone but should know that this has to do with the country's health, hence they should also partner in this drive. A pharmacist suggests that government should buy laboratory testing equipment to identify fake drugs entering the country and place legal measures on defaulters.
Mr. President after the investigation, the manufacturer of the paracetamol syrup which caused death of children should be sued.
Mr. President it’s also good to know that members of The Gambia Transport Union have called off their nationwide sit-down strike after negotiations with The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders. This strike has indeed caused huge economic losses to the state. Now that the strike is called off, the relevant stakeholders should have a frank discussion in addressing some of the demands of the Transport Union. On the other hand, the Transport Union should also understand that the issue of fuel is global. Most of the fuel comes from Russia, a country which is currently at war with Ukraine. The Transport Union should also work with the police on the issue of too many police checkpoints on the Highways. However, the union should also know that those checkpoints are put there for reasons that are for the officers to continue monitoring their areas in ensuring that the country remains safe. In fact, those checkpoints will also help to avert road accidents due to the fact that drivers might not have that space to be speeding. It is good to have check points to avoid accidents and control crime and criminals.
Finally, Mr. President, we commended you for exercising a constitutional mandate which is to address the parliament once in every year. Your speech did highlight some activities that your government will be embarking on or has already done, however, what many Gambians were expecting to hear from you is what your government is going to do in addressing the prices of basic commodities among others.
Good Day