President Jammeh Presides Over Passing Out of New Army Recruits, Says He Would Not Tolerate Drug Trafficking

By Abubacarr Saidykhan 

In his address, on 23 June 2010, at the July 22nd square, The President told the soldiers who were passing out: “..Anybody who even think of smoking, book a place in mile two for the armed forces. We have zero tolerance for drug dealing. The use of drugs or trafficking in drugs whether they are on transit or not we are not going to accept, even they have arms and I am determined to wipe out drug trafficking in this country no matter what it takes…….. We are not going to tolerate drugs in whatever form.” As intake 30 paraded before the President he addressed them.

The president said the reward of joining forces with other gallant men and women of the Gambia Armed Forces lies in the honour, dignity and pride associated with the profession, and the immeasurable satisfaction they would be rendering in the defence of your country and the protection of the lives and properties of our people.

He said the passing out parade is indeed significant. He said it is significant in the sense that never before have they had such a large number of recruits in one intake. Equally important also is the fact that, this is the first time that the number of female soldiers almost out-numbered their male counterparts. “This is indeed gratifying” he said.
He said it shows the extent to which his government’s open door policy of promoting gender equality in all spheres of public service is paying dividend. He said it is important to be of service to our dear motherland, the Gambia.

He said becoming a member of the Armed Forces, they are required to demonstrate a high sense of discipline, integrity, honesty and respect at all times and comport themselves whether in uniform, on campus and whether on duty or not.

For his part Lt. Beyai, the Public Relation Officer of the Gambia Armed Forces who chaired the ceremony said recruit intake 30 comprises a record number of 1445 recruits of which 161 are females who formally pass out after an intensive six months military training in foot and arms drill, rifle drill exercises, field craft infantry minor tactics, map reading, physical training, martial arts amongst others.

He said it is important to mention that the GAF has succeeded in the areas of professionalism and capacity building where personnel of the armed forces have graduated as medical doctors, academies, combat engineer, lawyers and teachers to name a few. He said intake 30 is the largest intake and has started its basic military training on the 08 May 2009.

Presentation of awards was also demonstrated in the gathering. The first award is the fittest recruit. The award is a trophy and a cash prize D1500.00 which went to Joof Samateh and also D26, 000 awarded by the president and a laptop to the following awardees.

1. Best shot recruit Bojang Malang.
2. Best trade persons Corr Laity
3. Best female recruit Demba Fatou
4. Over all best recruit of intake Badjie Sadibou.

Lt. General Masanneh Kinteh the current CDS Gambia Armed Forces said the staggering number of personnel graduating today represents an increased commitment to fill capacity gap to enable the armed forces to deliver. He said this has given rise to systematic recruitment of able bodied men and women who will stand up to the challenge and sacrifice to defend the country’s integrity.

He said unbridling the armed forces “We are not just merely drafting personnel into the armed forces to increase the court, but equally mindful of the quality and the caliber of our personnel. He urged them to adhere to values of loyalty, commitment and discipline as put in them during their training.






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