Deputy CDS Drammeh Cautioned Soldiers Not To Be Political

PHOTO Deputy CDS Drammeh. (Photo Credit Online)

By Ousman A. Marong

Deputy CDS Yankuba Drammeh has on yesterday called on the Gambia National Army (GNA) to restrain themselves from politics. Major general Yankuba Drammeh was speaking as the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) elevates over 74^th none commission personnel’s of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) to various ranks. Major general Drammeh challenged the soldiers to raise the alarm where necessary on any issue that threatens the peace and security of the nation. The decoration of the military personnel’s into various ranks was a sign of honor and reward for performance for the newly promoted official guard's battalion. A total of 74^th personnel’s have been elevated to various ranks.

Major Yahya Darboe is the commanding officers of the guard's battalion, he revealed that his unit had gone through a series transformation over the past 3-years. He, therefore, reminded his men to always set exemplarily behaviors, adding that he whom much is given much is expected. He cautioned those who are not yet promoted to work hard and not to see themselves differently. He further called the promoted men and women to continue to serve the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) with distinction. He reminded them of their responsibilities in the army.

He disclosed that the year 2019 is a year of transformation, reorientation and the reorganization of the army, were military personnel’s are expected to maintain the high standard and discipline to traject the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF). He cautioned soldiers to stay away from politics and to raise the alarm as to when necessary on issues that dear threatens the peace and stability of the country. Staff Sergeant Bakary Ceesay one of the promoted soldiers hailed the Gambia Armed Forces and highlighted that one of their functions is to protect the lives and territorial integrity of the nation.            

          

Gambia’s first GOPSI troop from Saudi Arabia complain about financial benefits

By Ousman A. Marong

Eighty five soldiers of The Gambia Armed Forces who returned home after benefiting from the recently concluded Saudi Arabia training package have expressed their dissatisfaction about the benefits.

A source in the arm forces said the training package has no doubt some unfair play to the troop, adding that it is a disgrace for them.

The source further stated: “We can no longer bear it and would want to let the cat out of the bag.”

The source added that there is a lot of division and nepotism in the army caused by some so-called senior officers which should be a thing of the past in the new democratic dispensation.

He described the disclosure as the launching of what he referred to as exposing hypocrisy and despotism in the army.

 “Can you imagine, we seat in the plane from The Gambia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 16 good hours and after having spent one month there only to be paid D15, 000 upon arrival as member of the country’s national army?”

He questioned how on earth should they be paid for only D15, 000 as members of the country’s national army, while their counterparts at the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) who just embarked on a similar training for three month in the neighbouring Senegal and are paid D20, 000 per month with an extra weekly pocket money of D15, 000 during their stay in Dakar.

The military source retorted that senior officers are behind the selection for the training package to both Saudi Arabia and Senegal, saying the selection was very bias as it was not based on merits but only based on ‘whom you know"

 “All they are doing in the name of reforming the army by providing international training packages to the soldiers is a mere cover-up of their inefficiency and give President Barrow the impression that they are doing their work,” he noted.

He pointed out that President Barrow should try to build some trust between him and the army in order to end the mandate of the Ecoming forcers in the country so that the peace and security of the country can be in safer hands of Gambia Armed Forces instead of the Ecoming.

The Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Malick Sanyany refuted the allegation, adding that the military works through directions and proper channels and that they are a regularized institution.

“GAF is not a small institution and therefore it makes no sense for the allegers to complain much about the D15, 000 payments. Do the math yourself to see, 85 multiply by 15 how much would it give you.”

 He explained that the training package was sponsored by the Islamic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and not The Gambia governments.

“It is wrong for them to allege that the selection was unfair and was based on pick and choose,” Sanyang stated.

The military spokesperson concluded that the training package was a spot shot type by the Saudi government which includes accommodation, feeding, air ticket among others, so at the end of the program the officials decided to give each D15, 000 as pocket money, “and I see no reason for complaining about the payment.”

Joint Security Task Force At Amdalie Arrested Armed Robbery Suspects

By Ousman A. Marong

A joint security task force comprising of security officers from The Gambia and Senegal at the Gambian border town of Amadalie linking Senegal through Karang have on Sunday arrested seven suspects in connection with the recent armed robbery  in Farafenni.

The armed robbers invaded a patrol station and Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) in Farafenni and went away with huge sum of money.

Armed robbery is the order of the day in present day Gambia, which is causing apparent panic among the business sectors in the country.

It could be recall that in February armed robbers looted a shop in Sandu and seriously injured one Seedy Muktar, a Mauritanian businessman believed to be the owner of the shop. 

A similar incident occurred in Bertez, Serrekunda where one Sulayman Jammeh’s mobile shop was also looted and mobs went away with D25, 775.00  ( Twenty five thousand seven hundred and seventy five dalasis).

Business persons who spoke to this reporter lamented that rampant robberies have caused panic within the business community, saying these robbers only target business people and their properties.

They urged the government to strengthen the security sector to address the menace.

Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Police, David Kujabi disclosed: “The men were arrested and the police investigation teams are expanding their tentacles in looking into the matter thoroughly.”

He said the men arrested are suspects in connection with the armed robbery case in Farafenni, but quick to add that they are yet to confirm if these men were the real culprits behind the mugging, “as we are still mounting on our investigation.”

Asked whether the men were in possession of any guns, he the spokesperson of the Gambia cops noted that he could not elaborate much on that owing to security reasons.

                                       picture of the Police PRO David Kujabi (photo credit) Ousman A. Marong.