By: Binta Jaiteh
Three lawmakers on Monday raised concerns over the rocketing “Backway” deaths in the recent past, urging the government of The Gambia to rise to the occasion and address the issue of irregular migration to Europe.
The recent upward trend in “Backway” tragedies has shifted the public focus on these irregular migratory journeys, triggering passionate public discourse around them.
Each year, hundreds of Gambian youths embark on these journeys, which are often accompanied by dangers to both lives and limbs.
The coastal community of Bakau is one of the Gambian settlements that were hugely impacted this year in terms of “Backway” deaths.
Around 20 Bakau youths, who left for Europe more than a month ago, were found dead after their boat reportedly capsized.
Last week, the rural community of Njaba Kunda in the North Bank Region of The Gambia was in a deep state of mourning. Nine youths from the settlement have been confirmed dead when their boat reportedly sank in Mbou’r in Senegal.
The NAM for Bakau constituency, Assan Touray, said the people of Bakau were profoundly saddened by the news of the death of the Bakau youth. Legislator Touray said poverty and lack of job prospects have been forcing Gambian youths out of their country onto dangerous migratory routes.
“I blame the government for failing to provide job opportunities for the youth,” he argued as he spoke to The Voice in an exclusive interview.
He pointed out that it would be difficult to deter youths from seeking greener pastures in Europe if they continue to be challenged by unemployment back home.
“Any concerned government should put the plight of its youth first because they are the future leaders of the country,” stressed the Bakau NAM.
He advised the government to devise strategies that would ensure youths are gainfully employed.
“As a nation, we cannot continue to lose more youth,” NAM Touray asserted.
“I call on the youth to stop the backway journey because it is dangerous and deadly. More dialogue and sensitization areneeded as far as migration is concerned,” he opined.
The NAM for Busumbala constituency, Muhammed Kanteh, said the unauthorized or undocumented entry of migrants into another country without legal permission of the recipient stateis a common way through which most Gambian youths enterEurope.
“They face lots of difficulties on their journeys and some eventually lose their lives on the journey,” said Touray.
He opined that the high youth unemployment rate and inequalities are the main driving forces behind the surge in irregular migration.
“Many migrants got sick without proper medical attention. Some of them will be tortured, imprisoned, harassed and treated inhumanely,” NAM Kanteh stated.
“As a government, these issues should be discussed to see how best the situation can be addressed. The sad reality of all is the fact that we lack sufficient legal instruments to charge the culprits, who continue to collect money from the migrants and at the end of the day, no legal action will be taken,” he stated.
According to him, traffickers should be severely punished.
“Government should act immediately to control the situation if not, our youth will continue to perish in the sea,” he added.
He said the new Immigration Bill has reinforced hopes for addressing the issue of irregular migration.
The legislator for Foni Bintang Karanai, Bakary Badjie,reiterated that recent data on irregular migration had beenalarming, adding that the situation calls for a serious dialogue.
“This is sad and tragic. I always say at the Assembly that youth don’t embark on this dangerous route because of pleasure but due to the hardship they face in the country,” he asserted.
According to him, a lot of high school graduates are jobless while others cannot pursue their dream of pursuing higher education.
“What do you expect them to do in this horrible situation?”Badjie rhetorically asked.
He pointed out that even teachers, police officers and soldiers are now embarking on ‘Backway” journey.
“What do you think makes them to use the back-way? It’s because they are not well-paid,” Foni Bintang Karanai NAM stated.
“This is why it is the duty of the government to stand firm and address the issue of irregular migration,” he added.
He pointed out that it is only in The Gambia that employed people can’t support themselves, financially let alone help their families.
“Fancy compounds are owned by politicians while the poor continue to get poorer. The government and national assemblyshould address irregular migration as a matter of urgency,”NAM Badjie stated.