By Arret Jatta
The Speaker of the National Assembly, FabakaryTombong Jatta, has stated that The Gambia is at a crossroads due to the recent spike in delinquency.
The House speaker said the country is at a critical juncture due to the rise in crime rate. He pointed out those violent crimes such as armed robbery, gang violence, rape of girls and women, murder, Kush use, and children going missing.
In his remarks at the Ordinary Session of the 2024 Legislative Year on Monday, the House speaker described the upsurge in violent crimes as alarming, especially its consequences on leaders of tomorrow.
Speaker Jatta pointed out that understanding and addressing crime require a multi-pronged approach, including interventions at individual, family, community, and societal levels.
“I want to implore that prevention strategies include but are not limited to early childhood interventions, family counseling, education, and monitoring programs, community outreach, including religious values and law enforcement efforts focused on rehabilitation rather than solely punishment,” he stated.
He stressed the importance of recognizing the complexity of social delinquency, saying the vice has no simple solutions but that with proactive efforts and support systems, its impact could be lessened by helping individuals to lead fulfilling and productive lives.