Mr President, the protection of our national documents especially our ID Cards, passports and birth-certificates from going into the wrong hands is paramount.
It was so disheartening and even embarrassing that a lawmaker in Senegal Omar Cisse Souvane said a majority of people in his community in Casamance has Gambian ID cards. This allegation should be taken seriously by Gambian authorities by making investigation through the help of Omar Cisse Souvane who can help with the investigations. Alkalolu who gave them attestation should be reprimanded. We know that during former president Yahya Jammeh's time it was happening including the issuance of voters' cards which helped his re-elections except in 2016 when the borders were closed.
Thousands of voter cards were burnt at the APRC Bureau. This scenario of providing people of Casamance with Gambian national documents is a serious concern. The minister of Interior should summon all alkalolu to warn them seriously on the way they issue attestations. The NAM claim that it's easy to get our documents especially during election. This is worrisome and it needs urgent action. It is important that also alkalolu are sensitised on consequences of foreign nationals acquiring our national documents, and we should jealousy safeguard our documents. We believe that when they understand this, they will be able to scrutinise the people who are looking for these documents. Besides, alkalolu know almost all the people within their respective villages.
Therefore, they should be honest in the way and manner they issue attestations to people.
Mr President, it is also our belief that there should be heavy penalties meted to people on both parties (giver and receiver) illegally issuing national documents to foreign nationals just for their individual interest. Officials of The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) should also be very vigilant when issuing national documents. We believe that during their panel interviews, they should widen their investigation and ask important questions to the applicants with the objective of uncovering fraudulent means of acquiring attestations and other supporting documents.
Mr President, another issue that your government should really focus on is our country. The recent murder case that occured in Bakau involving a young man really shocked the entire nation. However, we must commend the security for arresting the suspect in this case and also mentioning the case at the Kanifing Court. It is also important that when the police finish their investigation, the matter is immediately brought to court and there is speedy trial. What happened in Bakau regarding the vandalisation of the Bakau Police Station was totally uncalled for. We can't allow this country to be ungovernable.
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We must exercise restraint and be law abiding. Let's not get carried by our emotions or individuals who have ulterior motives among others. Let's support our country's security in maintaining the peace and stability of this great country. Again, for the past years, personnel of the Police Intervention Unit have undergone so many trainings on crowd control among others. Therefore, the PIU officers should always use those techniques and knowledge during protest among others. Spraying tear-gas through compounds was totally wrong. This has affected so many people who had nothing to do with the protest in Bakau.
Finally, Mr President, the groundnut trade season is starting soon. Some farmers still want the price to be increased, but at least the government has tried over the past years by increasing the price every year compared to how it used to be during the former regime. The government needs to prioritise the issue of farmers and support them with their needs.
Good Day!
