This is of grave concern to me, and I hope to all Gambians. If this is indeed true, and toxic waste is leaked/dumped into Gambian waters, it could leave devastating effects that will last for generations. If government want to trace the ownership of the vessel, the registration will be a good place to start. Otherwise, am sure the US government will be more than willing to help if asked. I hope those responsible for this are dealt with severely. What a sell off! Maila -----Original Message----- From: Yusupha Jow [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2000 11:14 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Toxic waste abandoned off Gambian shores 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------