With the support of the United Nation Development program (UNDP) in partnership with the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) last Thursday donated a 30-Seater brand new Mini-Bus to the Gambia Prison Services (GPS).
The donated mini-bus meant to ease the transportation difficulty facing the staff of the prison service and inmate when taking them to court and hospital is estimated to worth over D3million.
The donation would also help prison staff to adhere to WHO guidelines in the promotion of social distancing to fight the pandemic as the Gambia Prison Service is among the most vulnerable institution.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony held at UN House, Alssate De UNDP Country Resident said the purpose of the donation was to enhance mobility for staff, prisoners and medical professionals to fight against coronavirus pandemic.
The Country Resident assured them of the UNDP readiness to support the government of The Gambia in its quest to combat the fight against Coronavirus pandemic. She added that UNDP together with GCCI are looking at several areas where we can have a quiet impact intervention that can help to prevent the spread of the pandemic in the detention centre.
Edi Mass Jobe, president of GCCI disclosed that overcrowded prison will be a potential place for the spread of the virus. He added that despite the liberation the prison still need to be decongested further.
The GCCI President however promised that his institution will repair two blocks at the Jeshwang prison and equally equip, a process that will start soon.
He quickly added that the donated 30-seater mini-bus was acquired through the help of the UNDP but GCCI also in partnership will fuel the bus for the next six months “and GCCI will be responsible for entirely maintenance cost,” he disclosed.
On his part, Anusumana Manneh, Director General of Gambia Prison Services, said Prisons are among the most vulnerable places and it is among important places to prevent from the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
He also affirmed that Gambia Prison Services is among the most vulnerable institutions in The Gambia in term of logistic, and currently the prison is over congested while controlling social distancing at the prison remains a major concern.
DG Manneh further commented on the challenges facing Gambia prisons this he said are not motivating.