His Excellency President Adama, At The State Of The Nation Address
By Ramatoulie Jawo
His Excellency President Adama Barrow informed Gambian Lawmakers on Thursday that his government is planning to close the Mile Two Central Prison and move it to Jeswang in Accordance with the Recommendation of the Truth, Reparation, and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC).
During his State of the Nation Address, President Barrow highlighted some of the developments and plans his government has for national security.
“In the correctional system, plans are underway to close the Mile 2 prison property and integrate it into the Banjul port area. The entity will be transferred to Jeshwang or relocated to a new site in the Greater Banjul Area. This is in accordance with the TRRC recommendations and various human rights reports,” he said.
Addressing crime statistics, President Barrow noted a decrease from 4,894 cases in 2022 to 4,567 in 2023, marking a 6.6% reduction. Major crimes saw a decline from 349 cases in 2022 to 272 in 2023, reflecting a decrease of 22%. He attributed this trend to heightened police vigilance and community policing strategies.
“Out of these, three hundred and forty-nine (349) major crimes were recorded in 2022 and two hundred and seventy-two (272) in 2023, implying a decrease of about twenty-two percent (22%). The decrease cuts across all crimes. In 2022, one thousand and two (1002) traffic cases were registered, with nine hundred and twenty-two (922) registered in 2023,” he added.He highlighted efforts against drug abuse, citing successful seizures and convictions by the Drug Law Enforcement Agency. The government is also collaborating with partners to establish a rehabilitation center and has launched a drug demand reduction program aimed at educating youth about the dangers of substance abuse.
“Mr. Speaker, in 2023, we inaugurated four model police stations, fully equipped with modern equipment, and constructed fifty-two (52) new accommodation rooms for the military in Farafenni. All were fully funded by the Government. To complement these efforts, we have commissioned two naval vessels, one funded by the Government of The Gambia and another donated by the Kingdom of Spain. This development has facilitated collaboration with the Republic of Senegal to combat cross-border crimes,” he said.
President Barrow underscored migration as a global issue, affirming his government’s commitment to exploring legal pathways for Gambian migrants through bilateral labor migration agreements.