By Binta Jaiteh
Scores of Gambians and non-Gambians as well have been complaining about a spike in crime rates in the country, especially within the Greater Banjul Area, which they linked the issue to the high unemployment rate among young people of the country.
Despite the government claim that the nation’s economic growth is 6.5%, the staggering youth unemployment rate stands at 4.5 per cent.
Speaking to Lamin Dampha, a businessman said in order to address the issue of crimes in the country the government should come up with policies to create more jobs for the youths. But he was quick to add that State should endeavour to strengthen security across the length and breadth of the country.
He said: ‘If the security force is strong such things would not be happening and lack of employment can also influence the youths to engage into illegal issues.”
“The government should provide more job opportunities for the youths because any country that ignores the youths that country’s development is at risk,” he added.
But Mahmoud Jaiteh said: ‘’people think that democracy is about a State free from laws and that there is no law in the country since the new regime fails to address the perpetrators ‘’
For Isatou Sillah, she said the government should create awareness and sensitizes people about the meaning of democracy and freedom of speech if not some will continue to abuse the laws. She argued.
She said: “despite the issue of a democratic state, corruption rate has taken all the sectors of the country including our police force departments and up to the court level because justice cannot be served when the leaders in charge are not loyal.”
Police spokesman, Lamin Njie couldn’t be reached for comments until press.
