I just culled this very disturbing development form the Observer. Another
very suspicious development.  This reeks like a conspiracy.  In times past,
it was well known that foreign companies would pay African leaders to dump
waste in their countries though this might not be the case here.,





GPA,   Others Intensify Probe
  The mysterious appearance of a wrecked foreign vessel   suspected to be
carrying toxic waste has provoked the establishment of a   committee
comprising the National Environment Agency, Gambia Police Force,   Gambia
Ports Authority and other concerned state institutions to investigate the   ma
tter.
  The wrecked-looking vessel, which is currently   anchored a considerable
distance offshore from the Banjul Port was allegedly   'illegally and
secretly' towed around the Port by unknown persons who, according   to
reports were bribed for that purpose. Reports reaching The Independent say   t
he MV Jonas, weighing about 1,600 tons was allegedly towed in the
jurisdiction   of The Gambia by another vessel the MV Dali on January 24,
2000. MV Dali,   according to the reports left the country three weeks ago
but left behind the   wrecked vessel after port officials were allegedly
offered thousands of US   dollars as bribe to leave the 'toxic waste' vessel
intact on Gambian waters.
  Highly placed GPA sources have since claimed that the   MV Jonas is
suspected to be carrying toxic waste or other waste materials   intended to
be dumped in Gambian waters. The GPA sources however, added that   since
there are regulations to be observed before the entry of vessels into the   co
untry's territorial waters, it was incumbent on the GPA to monitor MV Jonas
before it was 'abandoned' in The Gambia. The sources indicated that GPA   proc
edures make it mandatory for any vessel entering the country to announce its
 arrival and to be escorted to port by a GPA appointed pilot.
  After a vessel has anchored, a boarding team,   consisting of customs,
immigration officers and GPA health officers would be   dispatched to it to
know its contents before offloading. Charges to be imposed   according to
them depend on the tonnage of the vessel. The sources who appeared   concerned
, blamed state security institutions for their failure to prevent it,   mainta
ining that it was improper for the MV Jonas to be 'abandoned' on Gambian   wat
ers without its crew who allegedly left 'without the notice' of GPA   official
s. GPA insiders also blamed their managing director and the operations   direc
tor for negligence and held them responsible for allowing the vessel inside
Gambian territorial waters.
  The insiders alleged that since Cosmos Shipping are   the agents for the
vessel, both the harbour and traffic masters should have been   informed.
Insiders also inferred that the two senior officials should have been   aware
of the vessel's entry since they both receive daily returns of ships,   detail
ing the purpose of their call to port. The officials who declined to be   name
d called for the 'immediate' resignation of the two senior GPA officials,   wh
o they held 'wholly responsible' for any adverse situation, resulting from
any   toxic waste discharged from the vessel.
  Captain Abdourahman Bah GPA's operations director who   acknowledged that
speculation abounds connecting the vessel with toxic waste,   also told The
Independent that the matter is the subject of a committee of   inquiry and
those suspected of involvement are 'trying to divert the people's   attention.
 'But the truth will surely be revealed soon' he asserted. Mr. Bah   said
that although he did not want to pre-empt the outcome of the committee of   in
quiry, he was wrongfully blamed for negligence. Efforts to speak with Ebrima
 Jagana GPA's managing director proved futile as he was constantly said to be
out   of his office. According to an official of the GPA who dismissed
reports that MV   Jonas was 'toxic laden' Mr. Jagana is not a member of the
committee set up to   look into the matter.
  Since the sudden and unprecedented arrival of the   wrecked 'toxic-laden'
vessel around the Port of Banjul, the public, especially   the residents of
Banjul have expressed 'grave' concern about its contents.   People who spoke
to The Independent said that it was against international   environmental
conventions for a wrecked vessel laden with toxic matter to be   abandoned in
another country, especially when there is the potential for damage   to life
and the environment.
  Hamat Kebbeh of Half Die in Banjul said that many   people around the area
were monitoring the vessel since it reached Gambian   waters and he urged the
authorities concerned to send it away. 'Let the   authorities expel it
immediately before it is too late. It could be poisonous',   he added. Binta
Njie of Hagan Street accused senior GPA officials of negligence,   recalling
that a similar situation occurred last year, resulting in the burning   of a
marine patrol boat at sea. Binta also claimed that MV Jonas' 'unnoticed'   ent
ry highlights 'some serious security lapses.'
  Recently a similar vessel suspected to be laden with   destructive toxic
waste was towed in Senegalese waters, provoking massive   protests against
its berth in that country. It was eventually sent away by   Senegalese
security agents.

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