By Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly last week requested Vice President Muhammed Jallow to explain his visit to Senegal with the outcomes of the meeting to the House.
The NA member for Banjul Central Lawmaker, Hon Abdoulie Njai requested this from the VP, during questions and answer time with Ministers.
In response to the question, the Vice President informed the Members that his visit was meant to strengthen the existing relationship between the two countries and further address the challenges of implementation of bilateral agreements between the two countries.
He noted that the meeting focused on defecse and security, fisheries, the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat, the Millennium Challenges compression compact, and the economic commercial and investment forum.
He said the outcomes of the visit include agreements to implement the bilateral agreements through the Senegalo-Gambia permanent Secretariat, the institutionalization of an economic commercial and investment forum, incorporation of the Gambia in the proposed regional compact that Senegal is undertaking under the Millennium challenge corporation. Also, fisheries cooperation on capacity building and laboratory service, security cooperation on capacity building on joint border patrol, and re-enforcement of joint military committee and joint military defense security committee.
Hon Njai, therefore, asked him the specific outcomes he laid on defense and security, saying it is an open secret that the country has border challenges with counterparts. “What were the progressive measures on the outcomes of the “meeting, he asked?
“We have border issues in the Gambia and Senegal that is one of the reasons for the Senegalo-Gambia Permanent Secretariat because that is the body tasked by the two countries to manage the borders”, VP Jallow asserted.
He added that in terms of defense, there is joint border patrol to avoid intrusion at either side of the borders.
The Banjul North lawmaker informed the VP that some of the intrusion includes illegal smuggling of rosewoods and most of the time settlements do take place on the Senegalese side, saying most Gambians complained of illegal troop to The Gambia with no legal action,
The Vice President answered that concerning the rosewoods the position of the government and the security is that we are not allowing anybody to engage in that.
Member for Brikama South Lamin J Sanneh said the VP’s visit aimed to cover the border crisis affecting various regions in the country, so among the outcomes, he asked if there is border demarcation.
VP Jallow again answered that the issue of border demarcation is a responsibility given to the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat.
“I think this discussion has been going on for a long time”, he contended.
Member for Busumbala Constituency, Hon Muhammed Kanteh demanded a full explanation on the hot pursue agreement between the Gambia and Senegal.
According to the Vice President, the discussion also touched on the hot pursues agreement in which Senegalese and the Gambia raised their concerns.
One of the problems they encountered, he said, is the implementation of the hot pursue adding that the hot pursue agreement says if someone commits a crime, one side can pursue that up to 5 kilometers. “After 5 kilometers the security of the other side can take responsibility of the case. What has been happening is that sometimes when the Senegalese pursue they don’t inform the Gambian authorities.”
He said this has been one of the issues and according to the agreement they are supposed to inform the Gambian government before they pursue anyone.
However, he said, hopefully, some of the issues will be solved as per the agreement.