I was sent this info. by my sister this morning.

Embassies Question Gambia's Old Passport

<A HREF="http://allafrica.com/publishers.html?passed_name=The%20Independent&passed_location=Banjul">The Independent</A> (Banjul)September 2, 2002

Posted to the web September 3, 2002 Lamin Njie

Banjul

Tamsir Jasseh, the Deputy Director of Immigration, has said that some
countries, especially Western nations are raising some questions about the
old Gambian national passport.He said certain features of the passport, such
as its lamination are making western embassies reluctant to issue visas to
applicants with it and are referring them back to the Immigration Department
to obtain the new green/coloured passport.Speaking to journalists at a press
conference at his office in Banjul Friday, Jasseh said the green passport is
tamper-proof and the holder's picture scanned on it. He said the number of
people sent back to the department is so numerous that it is causing a delay
in the passport processing system because such cases are usually treated as
emergency.On the issue of passport application, he said it may take seven
days, but quickly added that his department has a new policy of processing
passports in 72 hours. He however said that in a case where a special
investigation was necessary the processing of such passports has to take as
long as it takes the investigation to be concluded.He stressed that the
Immigration Department has the obligation to maintain the integrity of
government and that individuals should not work with corrupt officers to
obtain travelling documents fraudulently.On the frequent raiding of illegal
aliens, Jasseh said such raids are based on intelligence and the need to
avoid any unnecessary convenience for that segment of the population that are
law abiding.He emphasised that raids are now a permanent and continuous
activity in the Department."We have created a new unit called the Interior
Enforcement Unit whose sole responsibility is to enforce the Immigration Laws
within the Gambia on a 24 hours, seven days a week basis", Jasseh
explained.He concluded that his men have the authority to stop anyone and
determine his/her immigration status in the country. He however said they
have adopted policies and procedures that would reflect compassion and
respect for human rights at all times.On the border tension between the
country and Senegal, he simply said, "we are monitoring the situation.

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