By: Nyima Sillah
The National Assembly members have expressed concern over the living standards of Gambian men and women in uniform and called on government to urgently improve their situations.
MPs of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defense and Security raised the concern during their tour to security venues across the country.
The tour among other things aimed to help the MPs come up with strong budget for security apparatus.
Speaking at a news conference, the committee chairman, Honorable Momodou LK Sanneh, said security installations visited by the committee have exposed them to different things as they have seen a terrible condition that the securities are living.
“For a country to maintain peace and stability securities must be empowered and if the securities are not empowered, the country will be insecure. Securities are suffering and their wellbeing needs to be considered,” Honorable Sanneh, deputy speaker of the National Assembly said.
However, he commended the Gambian men and women in uniform for services they are rendering to the country in maintaining peace and tranquility.
Honorable Dawda Kawsu Jawara, also a member of the committee, praised the security personnel for putting their lives on line for the country, adding without having meaningful resources.
Honorable Saikouba Jarju noted that the job of the securities is to respond when needs arises but in order for them to respond on time mobility is a necessity.
He said the moral of the securities are high and they are ready to sacrifice in any conditions they are in and to make the work easy, they need the necessary equipment and tools.
“Our securities are living far below human quality of a resident; feeding is a problem for them and their welfare need to be considered. I am urging the securities not to lose hope with the current conditions they are living,” he said
Another speaker Honorable Salifu Jawo, said most of the rural police stations do not have female counterparts because of the conditions of the place and some women are lactating and they cannot live in such conditions with their babies.