Defense committee meets security institutions in NBR

The committee on Tuesday met Bara Police Force and Fire and Rescue Service, Njongon Military Camp and Kerewan Police Station officials in North Bank Region.

The committee is mandated by the 1997 constitution under section (109) to embark on a nationwide tour to meet security institutions, interact with them and gather first-hand information on their activities, achievements and problems.

Assistant Commissioner Dembo Trawally at Barra Fire and Rescue Service Division said they serve as a multi-purpose center that accommodates Gambia Police Force, Gambia Immigration Department and Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia therefore making the center very congested.

He stated that their main challenges are mobility and accommodation which he described as fundamental for security institutions to work effectively.

“Sometimes we cannot go out on our normal patrol duties because the vehicle available to us is not good. We find it difficult to respond when the need arises”, said Trawally.

Omar Joof, Station Officer Barra Fire and Rescue Service said they have only one toilet that is not fit for human use. 

Officer Joof added that the station’s building is old with cracks all over the walls. He said they also lack furniture which makes their work difficult.

“Our firefighting truck is old. We do not always have enough fuel to operate effectively. The only available truck covers only from Bara to Kerewan which is a huge area”, he explained.

He therefore appealed to government through the committee to provide them a proper station and mobility to ensure effective service delivery.

At Njongon Military Post, Warrant Officer Class One and Commanding Officer of the military post, Mankamang Kujabi told the committee that electricity is their biggest problem as they depend on a rented generator from the community. 

“The structures here are not adequate for us as we live in dormitories”. He thanked the post’s previous commanders who demarcated the buildings in order to create some privacy within houses.

We are soldiers but we are human beings as well, thus, we need at least a decent living which is not the case here in Njongon” he stated.