By Lamin B. Darboe
Communication Officer, MoPS
The Minister of Public Service (MoPS) recently presided over the inauguration of the National Records Service (NRS) new Digitalization room at its headquarters in Kanifing.
The new facility according to Mr. Wassabo Darboe, the Principal Records Officer and head of National Archives at the National Records Service the Digitalization room was fully equipped and sponsored by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) to digitalize storage of records and the state archives.
In his inaugural speech, Hon. Baboucarr Bouy said he was delighted to officially presided over the inauguration of NRS new Digitalization room, while explaining that preserving records on long term basis allows a country to document its cultural heritage, supports efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.
“It will also support planning, informed decision making, supports continuity and consistency and thus critical to the realisation of Government development objectives. it has recently been observed that un-digitalize records poses numerous challenges which has the potential to limited access due to high fragility of the records, destruction of the records by humidity, insect/termites, fading of the writings, over usage,” Minister Bouy explained.
Public service minister explained that the implementation of the digitization project is expected to have the following benefits: better storage capacity, easy accessibility, fast file retrieval, easierand faster collaboration, increased security, save on resources, better data recovery and file longevity.
Minister Bouy therefore highlighted that furnishing the digitization room with equipment, office supplies are an essential first step in his ministry’s drive towards a full fledge digitization of all the records at the National Archives and Records Centre.
Turkish Ambassador to The Gambia, F. Turker Oba said the items donated to the National Records Services digitalization room will support the digitalization process of the sector.
The project he went on, was part of the 16 projects TIKA already handed over to The Gambia Government, thus both The Gambia and Turkey enjoy excellent cordial relationship at all level.
Lamin F. Jawara Permanent Secretary, Personnel Management Office (PMO), Mr. Bartholomew Marong Director, National Records Service (NRS) and Sule Bayer TIKA Gambia coordinator both described the relations between The Gambia Government and TIKA as a longstanding one which is based on mutual trust and understating.