By Binta Jaiteh
Top custom official at Basse custom station has called for more motivations for security personnel especially those stationed in the border town to ensure security is maintain.
Speaking to the National Assembly select committee on regional trade and integration members on their visit to the custom post in Basse, Buba Ceesay, manager of Basse custom station said: “security of the country should not be underrated in any way and one of the responsibilities of security officers at the borders is to make sure that criminals don’t evade.”
He claimed that they are the most vulnerable security officials than any other security services in this country, saying it is because of them people are safe and “even if the money is not there but let service be delivered,” he appealed.
He made some narrations about their activities at the border points and as well at the airport by given different scenarios of their intervention.
Mr Ceesay made call for a respect of the ratified protocols between The Gambia and Senegal.
He emphasised that officials of the two countries should comply by the Ecowas protocol and do their jobs courteously saying “once the recommended protocol is observe we will not experience any challenges within the borders.”
Honorable Muhammed Mahanerah, chairperson of the National Assembly select committee on regional trade and integration committee said the tour is to find out the challenges facing the trading activities in border posts.
Honorable Mahanerah replying to some of their complaints said “We are two countries of different laws, but what bounded us together is the Ecowas protocol which must be observed by all the states who has signed the protocol like Senegal , Mali, Guinea and countries within the sub region.What we had so far for custom in The Gambia even if not 100% but we are ahead of other countries because they are implementing the protocol and we can level the rate at 90%.”
He informed them that the most important thing is that they don’t want delay at the post while their counterparts from the neighbouring country must respect the ECOWAS protocol.
Ebrima Lowe ISRT officer from GCCl, said ISRT is not a new protocol it was launched in 2008 and later in 2013 the government of Gambia designated GCCI as national guarantor.
