By Landing Colley
The National Assembly Members have intensified calls on Barrow administration to thoroughly monitor and come up with tough restriction on Gambia-Senegal borders in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
The lawmakers made the calls on Friday as they slashed down 90 days to 45 days as measures to contain spread of the pandemic.
Tumana lawmaker, Foday N.M Drammeh, said when he went around his consequence he noted that the biggest issue that the country is having in this difficult time is the borders citing that “up till now people are going in and out of the country,” as they wish.
He added that “movement of people in an out of the borders in their large numbers did not stop especially among the Senegalese. They do come in and out of the country on a daily basis, so if we still cannot protect our people around the borders end, it is going to be a very serious,” issue.
He reflected on submission of the Jarra Central lawmaker, Kebba Jallow and quoted that he said “‘most of these areas in the hinterland are bordered with Senegal with porous entry point.’ So, it is sad to say there is no security available in those porous entry points as to take control of the movement of the people in and out of the country.”
According to him, he said on his visit to his own constituency he was confronted with bunch of them with their timbers and donkey-carts entering into his constituency which he has to ordered them to wash their hands.
He therefore urged the security sector to be very proactive in helping the country and residents in fighting the pandemic.
Alfusainey Ceesay, National Assembly Member for Sami said the accepted closed borders are not close asking if Sami is not part of The Gambia which is as well paying taxes. “there is no border securityaround Sami adding people are entering like flies and while we are saying that borders are closed, which borders are close?” he asked.
He too joined in calling the government to empower the security and station them there hence they know the movement of the people there.