By: Kemo Kanyi
President Adama Barrow has issued a stern warning to the police, calling on them to cease, with immediate effect, demanding money from drivers and motorbike riders, who fulfil the required documentation to ply the roads.
The president did not mince his words when he said such acts would attract forthright dismissal.
The Gambian leader gave the drivers and riders the assurance of his government’s full protection against any form of abuse if they possess the right documents. He, however, advised those yet to acquire the required documents for their vehicles to do.
“Failure to acquire the right documents for your vehicle is tantamount to flouting the laws of the land, but if you haven’t flouted any law, no one should stop or seize your vehicle,’’ he emphasized in a community meeting at Gambisara Lamoi in Tumana in the Upper River Region as he continued his “Meet The People Tour”.
Border Security & Extortion
Mr. Barrow acknowledged the importance of security deployment at the official borders for the protection of lives and property, considering the porosity of the country’s land borders. He, however, warned border security against soliciting bribes at the borders, categorically stating that anyone caught in the act of soliciting or receiving bribes would be immediately sent home for good.
“The police and other security personnel are doing a very commendable job, but it is not part of their job to stop or seize people and then demand money from them. That is not part of their job. I am giving them that warning today that any security agent, who is protecting the people, must do as the laws dictate, but not to take or demand money from the people. If we receive reports of such malpractice by any anyone in the service, I am not going to compromise with that attitude. We will terminate your service because such does not contribute positively to the development of the country and we don’t want to work with people who want to set our country back,’’ H.E. Barrow stressed.