SBG Presents Essential Items To Prison Authorities

Photo: SBG Proppriator with Prison authorities (Photo Credit  Flex Dan)

By Ousman A Marong

Smart Business Group (SBG), a local business enterprise in The Gambia has today, presented various essential items to The Gambia Prison Services (GPS) to stop the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the prison.

The presented items include large quantities of veronica buckets, 50 liquid soaps, 60 bags of laundering soaps, 5 thermometer guns, 15 washing buckets, 1800 face masks, etc.

In a brief presentation ceremony held at the Gambia Prison Services (GPS) Headquarters, the public relation officer of GPS superintendent Modou lamin Ceesay, expressed concern about the vulnerable that suffers from the pandemic the most because they cannot afford the key essentials to protect themselves.

“It is for this reason that SBG thought it wise to present these essentials items to the GPS to assist in protecting inmates and wardens,” PRO Ceesay said.

Superintendent Ceesay said COVID-19 has provided the opportunity to observe key hygiene rules, adding that they are doing all it takes to see that the prison is COVID-19 free.

Mr. Omar Njie, The proprietor of Smart Business Group (SBG) said it is a pleasure to give back to the prison services at the trying times of COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo: Essential items (Photo Credit Yusuf Tylor aka Flex Dan)

“On behalf of my company (the Smart Business Group) I am proud to present sanitary items needed to assist our brothers and sisters in prison, especially the prisoners who are very vulnerable. The office of the vice president in consultation with the COVID-19 committee in The Gambia has made the wearing of face masks mandatory in public places. Therefore as concern citizens, we want to contribute our quota in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in our country,” said Omar Njie.

The SBG Proprietor said the reason behind the distribution is to encourage others to come forward to help the prisoners. He also called on the government to come to the aid of the prisoners.

“We have all seen what has happened when we watched the TRRC. The conditions in which the prisoners are living is really bad as we are in very trying times right now. The prison should not look like a place for criminals. It should be a correctional center that transforms people to become useful in society,” he concluded.

Saikou Kawsu Gassama, Director of Administrations at the Gambia Prison Services hailed SBG for their timely intervention to the GPS during this trying time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are very glad to receive these gifts because they are very timely. These gifts have come at a time when the whole county is bracing for the lightning of the emergency regulations,” he concluded.