By Our Western Division Correspondent Wise Man.
Paid for and Commissioned by the Freedom Newspaper.

The Governor of  Western Division Abdou FM  Badjie, has told the Freedom
Newspaper in an interview that police recruit applicants "whose loyalty to
the Ruling APRC government" is doubted would not be admitted to the Force.
He was speaking to our Correspondent Wise Man, while thousands of
unemployed Gambian youths lined up around his Brikama offices, patiently
awaiting to be called for police selection. Commissioner Badjie who was part
of the task force to scrutinize applicants, intimated to this paper that
they received "orders from the Gambian President Yahya Jammeh" to select
applicants who are loyal to the government only. Badjie then disclosed that
out of the bunch of applicants,  only 50 would be selected for police basic
training and the rest would be dropped. Badjie said among their task, was to
conduct a thorough background checks on the applicants political
affiliation, educational background and past criminal records. He says
applicants who do not meet the said requirements, would be unqualified to
serve the Gambia police force, while emphasizing the need for selected
applicants to pledge their allegiance to the government of the day.

The Freedom Newspaper has gathered that out of the 50 selected police
recruits, 25 of whom would emanate from Foni, the President's birth region.
14 women and 11 men. When asked why the selection exercise was conducted at
his office, Governor Badjie said the government wants to ensure that all
Districts have equal selected applicants in the force. He says the
government deemed it necessary to decentralize the police selection process.
He maintains that applicants suspected of having ties with the opposition
would be disqualified forthwith. According to Badjie such applicants have no
place in the force. He says the government cannot work with people who are
not loyal to the system.


Governor Badjie informed our reporter that similar selections would be
conducted at the Kanifing Municipal Council on June 26TH, 2007 and Banjul
City Council on June 27TH. He says the qualified applicants would be sent to
the Gambia police training school for basic police training duties. He says
the people of Foni were loyal to the APRC and therefore deserved to be given
attention by the regime.

Badjie says he don't care what people would say about his involvement in the
police selection, arguing that it was part of his job, as the Governor of
the area. "Let them say what they want. This is part of my job." he told the
Freedom Newspaper.

As the nation is faced by massive unemployment rate, some students used the
police selection to achieve their ambition of being police officer. Some
students dodged school to take part on the selection process.

Police Superintendent Kinteh  and corporal Lamin Bojang represented the
office of the Inspector General of police at the selection exercise.
Superintendent Kinteh told our reporter that the selection was based on
merit and loyalty to the APRC government. He says loyalty matters as far as
serving the Gambia  police force was concerned.

Samba Baldeh an applicant told the Freedom Newspaper that he went to
selection ground as early as 7am and was confident of being enrolled into
the force. When asked if he would be disappointed if it turns out that his
application was denied, Baldeh said he relied on God and nothing else. Binta
Kijera who was dressed on her school uniform also participated on the
selection process. Kijera said she had grade nine certificate and was hoping
to be enrolled into the force. She says she was more competent than many
officers into the force despite her grade nine education. Kijera believes
that her joining the force would better her life for good.


Posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 (Archive on Sunday, July 08, 2007)
Posted by PNMBAI  Contributed by PNMBAI
Return <http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/Homepage/tabid/36/Default.aspx>

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