Italy yesterday donated 40 pickup trucks to The Gambia, as the two nations ponder fresh endeavours to stem the problem of irregular migration.
The Italian government is seeking the support of The Gambia in dealing with a problem that has seen the country take in hundreds of thousands of migrants including Gambians over many years.
The vehicles are donated to the Gambia Immigration Department to boost the department’s border security and migration management efforts.
And at a handover ceremony held yesterday at the GID Irregular Migration Monitoring Centre in Tanji, Interior Minister Mai Ahmad Fatty, presiding over the event, said the development was in sync with the vision of President Adama Barrow.
Fatty stated that, “The vision of the President is a Gambia that is strong; a Gambia that is secure; a Gambia that is prosperous; a Gambia where her citizens can build a strong and sustainable future; and a compassionate one where every citizens can find her/his place.”
And he added: “Beyond that, His Excellency believes in fostering greater collaboration between The Gambia and nations. Our special relationship with Italy is one of those that this government will nurture and will continue to consolidate.
“We believe that issues that confront nations generally are shared obligations that every nation must contribute in its solution. Migration is just one issue. Irregular migration is one of international concerns and The Gambia has a role to play in its solution. That is why today is very significant. It is significant because it demonstrates the commitment of two nations towards resolving this imbroglio.”
Italy has said it can no longer be expected to deal single-handedly with the vast number of asylum seekers, most of them economic migrants, streaming across the Mediterranean.
And Minister Fatty who said The Gambia was ready to work with Italy on the issue said a solution can be found.
He said: “We have a vested interest in ensuring that conditions that are conducive for keeping our nationals are evolved. The Italians and the Europeans have an interest in ensuring that their borders are safe and people who travel to their country go there through the legal route. Both sides have the moral and the legal obligation to ensure lives are protected – and that people who embark on these perilous journeys are protected.
“The concern of the President is the lives that are lost along the way. This government wants to do something about it. The evidence of our seriousness is that we are now working to create a migration policy. It has never happened in this country.
When President Barrow was ushered in by the Gambian people, the Gambia had no migration policy. The commitment of this government is reflected through the validation of a migration profile. Consultations are ongoing among all stakeholders both our local institutions and international partners such as IOM and EU in order to build a very strong migration policy. That is the first towards ending an endemic challenge. The consultation will be expansive and thorough. We will come with a solution.
“The President has made it clear to a visiting European delegation that for migration to be stalled, the economy has to grow and we inherited a bankrupt economy. The volume of our seriousness must match the compassionate understanding of our partners.”
GID Receives 40 Toyota Hilux Pickups
Foroyaa Newspaper, 09.08.2017
By Yankuba Jallow
Italy yesterday donated 40 pickup trucks to The Gambia Immigration Department to help them to battle the irregular migration of Gambians.
The Gambia like many other countries of the world is working towards combating irregular migration but faces constraints such as enacting a Migration Policy which serves as a major constraint to the country.
These vehicles came as a fruitful bilateral relationship between the Gambia and the Republic of Italy who signed an international agreement way back in the year 2010. According to the authorities, this is not the first time Italy has supported GID as in the year 2012, 12 vehicles and computers were delivered to GID.
The driving force responsible for irregular migration basically is the search for new opportunities including the desire for wealth, educational pursuit, unemployment in the home labour market and the gap between skills and labour and market forces. The main course that can be attributed to the high level of migration is the poverty. However, the stiffening of European policies on entry visa requirement and the increased control measures to combat irregular migration has not served to reduce the mass influx. The phenomenon of clandestine migration could better be enhanced through the provision and facilitation of better living standards and through enlightenment, education to redirect perceptions and attitudes.
The Department of Immigration being the first contact of the migrants after a crucial and frustrated journey has inadequate facilities in terms of material resources to help to control this menace. The lack of facilities such as centres for guidance and counselling makes their work tedious.
These vehicles will be used to combat the high trend of irregular migration on the porous borders of the country and will promote the mobility of security personnel at the borders as well as serve as a means to promote efficient and effectiveness in GID.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Minister Mai Ahmed Fatty said the vision of President Adama Barrow is a Gambia that is strong, secure and prosperous.
“We believe that issues that confront nations generally are shared obligations that every nation must contribute in its solution. Migration is just one issue. Irregular migration is one of international concern and The Gambia has a role to play in its solution” he said.
He said when President Barrow was ushered in by the Gambian people, the Gambia had no migration policy adding that the commitment of this government is reflected through the validation of a migration profile. He also said an expansive and thorough consultations are ongoing among all stakeholders both our local institutions and international partners such as IOM and EU in order to build a very strong migration policy.
In conclusion, the Minister of Interior said the President has made it clear to a visiting European delegation that for migration to be stalled, the economy has to grow as we inherited a bankrupt economy. He said the volume of our seriousness must match the compassionate understanding of our partners.
Chief Superintendent Foday Gassama, the Commissioner of Irregular Migration Unit of GID said the Migration Monitoring Center (MMC) of the GID was established in the year 2008 and over the years played a pivotal role in stemming the tide of irregular migration. The MMC was established by GID to abate and combat the trend of irregular migration of Gambians. He said GID is doing all it can to curtail all forms of migration that falls outside the regular norms as mandated by law but challenges remain in the overall border management. He said the vehicles will be better utilised in order to curtail the menace of irregular migration and reinforcement of other security mechanisms cannot be overemphasized. He added that with the vehicles, it will boost up their efforts to quell the migration syndrome in the country and the services will be more effective and efficient.
The Director General, GID described the donation as the biggest in the history of the department since inception. The Chief of Defense Staff, Inspector General of Police, Director State Intelligence Service (NIA), and many other service chiefs and the Consul General of the Gambia to Italy where all present. The Gambia Immigration department was established by an Act of Parliament on August 22, 1990.
Only to keep in mind
Barrow was not elected as president to stop migration. He was elected as opposition to the former dictator Jammeh - who had to go. The People want freedom - and freedom includes the freedom of movement. And this means: No migration controls!