The Gambia Prison Service (GPS) receiving two 29-seater buses from the Gambia Transport Service Corporation (GTSC) on Wednesday
By Landing Ceesay
The Gambia Prison Service (GPS) received two 29-seater buses from the Gambia Transport Service Corporation (GTSC) on Wednesday. The buses are worth Ten Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Four Gambian Dalasis (D10,760,834).
The Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC) assigned the two 29-seater MIDI buses to the Gambia Prison Service (GPS) to help resolve their transportation difficulties.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Interior Minister Hon. Seyaka Sonko thanked GTSC for the buses and said it was timely, as the GPS had been facing transportation problems for some time. He said the buses would help to ease the transportation constraints of GPS officers, which would in turn enhance their punctuality to work and boost their morale.
“This valuable intervention is a clear manifestation of the government’s continuous commitment to supporting the Gambia’s Security Sector in a bid to ensure that the security and safety needs of the people are guaranteed,” he said.
The Interior Minister further urged the Gambia Prison Service to treat the buses as their own properties for longevity.
Director General of Gambia Prison Service (GPS) Mr. Ansumana Manneh said the donation of two buses to the GPS is part of the Security Sector Reform in the prisons.
DG Manneh expressed his gratitude to the special advisers to President Barrow for their intervention in securing the donation of the buses.
“The GPS has been struggling with challenges relating to transportation for many years to help facilitate the transportation and access s to mobility of our officers and also inmates to Court, Hospitals etc. The Prisons department is faced with massive mobility problems which have long been an outcry for the personnel, and if not tackled in a holistic manner, the institution will not be able to meet its aims and objectives, to enhance efficient and effective service delivery, the department needs roadworthy vehicles to facilitate daily movements of officers and inmates.
“It is always a sad moment for me as the Director General most times seeing my officers standing by the roadside looking for a lift to and from work. It is important to note that, there are only two vehicles available for both the senior and junior
officer’s transportation. These are the same vehicles used for inmate transportation to various courts and hospitals across the country, and they are not suitable for the inmates’ transportation because they are not designed for that purpose, therefore, we are expecting two specialized vehicles for the transportation of inmates to meet the security requirements,” he said.
DG Manneh also expressed his gratitude to the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Interior for their valuable support to the Prison Service, which aligns with prison management expertise.
Mr. Saloum Malang, Chairman Board of Director of Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC) hailed President Barrow’s efforts to ensure that these buses are available to the Gambia Prison Service (GPS).
Mr. Malang, said GTSC’s partnership with the Gambia Government is the true definition of Public Private Partnership (PPP).
The other speakers were Mr. Abubakarr S. Jeng, the National Security Adviser (NSA) and Mr. Mambajick Njie, Special Adviser to the Gambian President.
The handing over ceremony of the two buses valued at Ten Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Four Gambian Dalasis (D10,760,834) to GPS was witnessed by the Interior Minister, the Chief of Staff, the National Security Adviser, the Board Members, Chair and the Managing Director of GTSC at Mile II Central Prisons.