From the Observer

Jammeh says state security is paramount

The president and commander-in-chief of the Gambia Armed Forces, Yahya
Jammeh has said that foreigners bent on abusing the hospitality of the
country would not be welcomed. President Jammeh made these remarks yesterday
in Kanilai during a courtesy call by the security chiefs.

The president said the job of the security forces was to ensure peace and
stability in the country. "In as much as we want foreigners in this country,
the peace and stability of our nation and the security of our citizens are
our top most priority. We have an open door policy and we would continue to
pursue that open door policy but things change according to temperature and
circumstances," he said. President Jammeh outlined that there was a new
phenomenon Gambians never knew about- a reference to armed robbery which he
said was now becoming a common thing. "In most cases, you found out that it
is carried out by foreigners.

In as much as we want foreigners, we want decent foreigners to come to this
country and not armed robbers, criminals and murderers." He noted that over
the last five years, the security services had a lot to do because many
people wanted to come here "but we want clean and decent foreigners and not
people who would want to make a living at the detriment of the Gambian
people".

President Jammeh called on the security services to be loyal to the state.
He reminded them that as security personnel and soldiers, they were sworn in
to be loyal and to defend the government of the day. "So anyone of you who
thinks he or she should be neutral, is not loyal and you will be dealt with
accordingly.

In any country, the state security forces are supposed to be loyal to the
state," he said. President Jammeh promised that the security forces would
realise changes in terms of their welfare, working and living conditions.
Speaking on behalf of the security chiefs, the director of NIA, Kebba
Ceesay, said the coming five years would be all the more secure to enhance
the implementation of the developmental programme the government had set
itself. Mr Ceesay noted that the security chiefs had pledged to make the
Gambia a safe place to live in and to carry out business in an atmosphere of
peace and security. The security chiefs were led by the SoS for Interior.

In a related development, the LRD and NBD divisional campaign teams also
called on President Jammeh to congratulate him on his recent election
victory.

Speaking at both meetings, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Yankuba
Touray, called on them to again give all their constituency seats to the
APRC in the coming National Assembly elections to allow the APRC continue
its development plans.

Speaking earlier, President Jammeh promised that all the promises he made
during the campaign period would be fulfiled, amongst them, the Farafenni
Lamin Koto road. He congratulated the people of Baddibu for their
outstanding record during the last Presidential election, describing it as
the first in the history of Gambian elections, for the people of Baddibu to
rally behind the ruling government. Present were SoS for Foreign Affairs,
Baboucarr Blaise Jagne, SoS for Health, Yankuba Gassama, Fatoumatta Jahumpa
Ceesay, director of press and public relations at State House.





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