Jongfolo Jabbi, Lady Councilor of Basse Constituency has called on the government create jobs opportunity for Gambian, while she complaint over the issuing of Identity Cards (ID) and jobs to foreigner at the expense of Gambian youths.
She made this statement at Basse recently, where officials of the Office of National Security (ONS) and Geneva Center for Security Sector (DCAF) held a sensitization meeting to popularize the security sector reform that has widely been criticized for its slow step of movement.
“There are lots of people residing in Basse who are in possession of Gambian documents especially the ID card enjoying more privileges and rights more than bona-fide citizens of The Gambians. Personally I know of one boy who came to this country with his parents when he was just a small boy. The boy is now a military officer, the day I saw him in our uniform I was surprise, these things are unacceptable and the SSR process should make sure that foreigners are stop,” Jongfolo Jabbi told the ONS team.
Lady Councilor Jabbi, further accused local authorities including Alkalos and Chiefs in Upper River Region of the country for aiding foreigners to acquire Gambian citizen, stressing that those doing it should desist from doing such as it will have future repercussion on the progress of their own sons and daughters.
She pointed out that such attitudes conducted by Alkalos and Chiefs in the region has forced many Gambians to embark on the perilous back-way journey, whilst others who decides to stay compete with foreigners for the little jobs available in the market.
“The reason why many youths are venturing into the back-way is because of stiff competition for positions between Gambians and non-Gambians who clandestinely acquire Gambian nationalities thus grapping positions that supposed to be manned by Gambians,” Basse Lady Councilor observed.
Madam Jabbi revealed that any immigration officer who comes to Basse and wants to correct the situation are usually sacrificed or redeploy to other regions of the country, arguing that this unfair treatment meted onto immigration officers is giving more room for foreigners to get ID Cards in Basse very easy.
She calls on the ONS to launch an investigation into her allegations to verify whether she is right or wrong. She argues that anyone who is not a Gambian national should be dropped from the army, emphasizing that Alkalos and Seefoos should stopped issuing attestations to non-Gambians and as well Gambian Identity Cards should be issued to only Gambians.
She also commended the ONS/DCAF for embarking on such a nationwide sensitization that is meant to address the mistrust between civilians and the securities, a relationship she described as poor and unsustainable for a very long time.
According to her, it will be important to build closer working relation between the securities and civilians, advising that security officers of this country have to open up to accommodate the civilians.
“Personally when I was informed that am invited to a security sector reform meeting, I feel scared because I thought that this could be a trap to arrest me, this is why I want to appealed to ONS to open up more window of engagement between the securities and civilians to end the mistrust between us,” Jabbi told the gathering.
