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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 24 Sep 2018 : 15:38:26
New National ID Card Will Cost D450
Foroyaa: September 24, 2018
By MUHAMMED S. BAH
http://foroyaa.gm/new-national-id-card-will-cost-d450/
The contract for making the new cards which has been awarded to Semlex Company, will cost four hundred and fifty dalasi to possess.
This news is contained in a press release issued by the Office of the President on Saturday 22 September 2018.
According to the release, the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Ebrima Mballow, by 1 October, the issuing of ID cards to citizens will commence but will be centralized in Banjul. It will then spread across the entire country by December.
“It is the first step in the new dispensation in The Gambia’’, said the Semlex Country Project Director, Didier Cornil. He explained that the IDs are a big advantage for citizens because it is ECOWAS standard ID; and like the ECOWAS biometric passport, the quality of the document is high standard and acceptable in most ECOWAS countries.
He also added that the new ID product has improved security features, including a chip that stores all the biometrics. It is 100% biometric that scans all the ten fingerprints.
Explaining the registration procedure, the Director General of The Gambia Immigration Department, Mr. Buba A. Sagnia, said each applicant must either produce an old ID document, birth certificate, voters’ card, or a copy of a passport as proof of Gambian citizenship.
“We complement those [methods] with vigorous interrogation to establish whether the applicant is Gambian or not. In case of lost documents, one has to produce an affidavit of support and a Police report, or attestations from Alkalo and Seyfo. ID cards are security for our citizens, so we can identify our citizens from non-citizens,” he added.
At a ceremony at state house on Friday morning where both the President and Vice President were issued with national ID cards, the Vice President remarked: “We must jealously guard our national ID cards. We should not allow foreigners to have access to our national document. Let us welcome non-citizens, accommodate them and provide them with all facilities but we should never allow anyone who is not a Gambian to be in possession of our national documents.”
“The ID card is for Gambians. We want to make that very clear for everybody living in this country. We have rules and regulations that people have to follow. We want everyone to follow the due process to get every Gambian registered,” President Barrow told the State House Press Corps.
Citizens have generally raised concerns on the fee attached to the acquisition of this important National document, saying it’s very expensive.
The new cost of the ID card which is more than double its previous cost, is beyond the reach of the average Gambian income earner.
Abdoulie Corr from the North Bank region, believes that the price is too expensive for ordinary Gambians especially people in rural communities.
“It’s expensive and will be a burden on poor Gambians especially our rural people,” he said. He added that if such document cannot be easily affordable to the people, then the freedom of movement of the ordinary citizen will be threatened. He opined that Government should cut certain expenses and subsidize the ID cards, for every Gambian to get it. He also believes that with this fee, Government is doing business on the citizens.
Alhassana Gassama, a resident of Sukuta, West Coast Region, also believes that the cost of the new National Identity Documents are far beyond the reach of the average Gambian, and queried the pegging of the cost at D450?
Similar remarks were made by Kaddy Sanyang, Mbassey Manneh, Jainaba Ceesay, and Awa Jeng, all concerned females who welcomed the development, but decried the expensive cost attached to it.
Foroyaa tried to contact the Interior Minister to communicate the numerous concerns received by the medium regarding the cost of the new national ID, to no avail.
The Spokesperson of the Gambia Immigration Department, Superintendent Mamanding S. Dibba, said as far as his department is concerned, he has no official information concerning the new ID cards, and promises to give any information on the issue if available.
The Gambian National Identity document has been an issue for a very long time now. The issue has been debated in the country’s National Assembly, in numerous sessions, and it’s availability to the public, is a welcome development, except for cost attached to it.
Related Topics:
- Semlex Contract for ID Card Production.RESTORED.
- Government should be subjected to an independent enquiry
- Mai Fatty fired and redeployed
- Minister denies taking bribe for any contract
- ID cards,not yet.!
- GAMBIS at forefront of technology and innovation
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| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 15 Oct 2018 : 18:22:15
By
Madi M.K. Ceesay -
October 15, 2018
Now that the issuing of our national document is ongoing by the embattled Semlex Company; how sure are we that this very important document is not getting into wrong hands as most of our documents are already.
It is a well known fact that many Gambians ID cards holders are non-citizens; because the APRC regime were relying much on such non Gambians who always crossed our boarders to cast their votes in many of our elections. And it has been reported in many quarters that Gambian IDs were seized from non- citizens; in their attempts to vote in the country.
Many Gambians also claimed that a good number of our voters’ cards found their way into wrong hands by the aid of some partisan supporters. In the same vein our passports are claimed to have in since some cases gotten into non-citizens hands; all these allegations and claims make us venerable. And the danger in such is that those people who are non-Gambians but holding our documents make them represent the country. If they commit crimes it’s the name of the country that is tarnished. And most of them little will they care about such images.
The authorities gave deaf ears to calls that the company (SEMLEX)’s image and integrity is in question and also that the company’s names tarnished already as they are accused of corrupt practices in Belgium and are under police investigations and here in the country the National Assembly is also carrying out some fact findings on them.
However, since SEMLEX started the issuing of the IDs with the Gambia Immigration officials there is no new methods of qualifying to get the new ID other than just produce the old cards and one qualify to get the new one.So, what that implies is that all those with old cards will just be issued with a new ID.
Where is the scrutiny? Where are the checks and balances that non-Gambians who use other people’s influence to acquire our documents can’t get this new one again?
The immigration department should have a mechanism in place which can help avoid our national document getting into non- Gambians hands.
It should be noted that National Identity cards are primary documents and are requirements to get another very important document such as passport. It is one of the required documents to produce to get voters card of pass port.
That is what makes it so important that we do not put in place good and strong security valves; if we do not have such then we are at risk for people of different countries to hold our documents and participate in key decision making of our country.
http://dailynewsgm.com/is-our-id-card-getting-into-wrong-hands/ |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 08 Oct 2018 : 12:56:19
By
Madi M.K. Ceesay -
October 8, 2018
Bakary Sanyang, the Chief of Jarra Central has argued that the cost of new national identity (ID) card is too high for most Gambians and therefore urged government to get it revisited.
He was speaking in Lower River Region (LRR) recently during the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) pre-consultation meetings with local and traditional authorities across the country ahead of the review process of Gambia’s 1997 Constitution.
According to Mr. Sanyang, the fees of D450.00 charged by the Barrow Government as the cost of getting ID card for citizens is exorbitant and beyond the reach for many Gambians. He stressed the need for government to look at the issue again and revise the charges.
For his part, the Chief of Kiang Central, Demba Sanyang also called on CRC members to consider revising the District Tribunal Act which was developed by colonial administration and therefore was outdated. He stressed the need for the act to be revisited and fine tuned to suit the current realities and challenges.
Justice Cherno Sulayman Jallow, the CRC chairman, in response said the District Tribunal Act was made in 1903 by the colonialists. He was quick to add that he would deliver the message to the relevant authorities like the Chief Justice of the Gambia, Hassan Jallow so that something could be done about the obsolete law.
http://dailynewsgm.com/cost-of-id-card-needs-to-be-revisited-jarra-chief/# |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 06 Oct 2018 : 16:55:24
Thursday, October 04, 2018
Following the announcement that Belgian company, Simlex will start issuing national identity cards on 1 October, 2018, at a cost of D450, many Gambians expressed dissatisfaction.
Many argued that D450 was too expensive for an ordinary Gambian for ID card.
Honourable Alhagie H. Sowe, the National Assembly member for Jimara District, Upper River Region, is among those that disapprove the charges government attached to ID card. Hon. Sowe argued that majority of Gambians, especially those in the provinces and the poor people would have it difficult to afford the ID card fee.
The Jimara lawmaker was speaking to our reporter on Monday in an exclusive interview. “Looking at the current issues happening in the country, I believe the government is woefully failing Gambian people in all aspect.”
“The government needs to understand that majority of Gambians live in abject poverty and there is no way some of them can afford D450 for an ID card. The decision taken by the government is wrong. Therefore, they should rescind it; otherwise majority of Gambians will be without ID card because that they cannot afford it.”
“We need to ask ourselves about how much an average Gambian earns monthly. Therefore, D450 for an ID card is beyond my imagination. I was expecting that if the new ID cards were ready, the fee will be less than the fee that was attached to the old ID cards during the former administration. But it is like this people do not have sympathy to poor Gambian people.”
Hon. Sowe expressed disappointment with the government, saying that the most painful aspect of the contract is that it has never been brought to the Assembly for approval.
Author: Momodou Jawo
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/jimara-nam-dislikes-govts-d450-id-card-charges |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 05 Oct 2018 : 16:58:01
VERY interesting,NOT necessary to write more is it ?
EXCEPT:
"So with all this evidence at hand, the NA should call a special session and request a cancellation of the contract forthwith."
====================================================
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
Culled from Right 23 Know - Gambia
By Jeggan Grey-Johnson
Dear R2Kers:
Attached is the contract that GoTG signed with Semlex. As you will see the contract raises so many red flags. The mere fact that in the contract under point 7- they are now admitting that this is a NEW contract. Something they denied all along, claiming that their hands were tied. And that there was no way to extricate itself from the original contract.
You will also recall that on January 4th 2018, Pristine submitted its proposals to GoTG when asked to do so in order to assess the possibility of reissuing of the Bio metric contract to bidders. Semlex did not submit a single piece of paper to GoTG because they “Maintained their position that they still had a valid contract with the Government”, to quote the Minister of Justice.
This new contract contradicts everything and reasons advanced for sticking to the old contract.
On the issue of tax exemptions: it seems that Semlex will enjoy the following at our expense:
1. It is unclear who is getting 60% and who is getting 40%; and how that arrangement was arrived at.
2. The tax exemptions are wide, and includes almost everything that Semlex says it owns, including importation of cars- which is laughable.
3. Also the fact that they need a duty waiver contradicts both Mai Fatty's pronouncements in public and to the National Assembly that Semlex had imported 10 million USD of equipment- if that were true, then why the need for another exemption?
On issue of possible capital flight:
1. The contract gives Semlex 100% Carte blanche to engage in capital flight with impunity, which paves the way for easy illicit flows of cash and money laundering.
This contract should be rescinded by the NA immediately. And those that are responsible for such a criminal undertaking be brought to book.
None of the guidelines in the GPPA were followed for example if they wanted to single source this contract the following HAD to be done:
1. The Minister responsible for Defence, with the approval of the Minister responsible for Finance, determines that a procurement is related to national defence or national security; (this was never done).
2. The President may by order published in the gazette, exempt any procuring organisation from requiring the approval of the Authority with respect to any procurement in whole or in part, and in such case the Cabinet shall be responsible for giving such approvals instead of the Authority. This was never done.
Finally aside from all these, Semelx must prove that is has the legal capacity to enter into the contract;
(c) it is not insolvent, in receivership, bankrupt or being wound up, its business activities have not been suspended, and it is not the subject of legal proceedings for any of the foregoing;
(d) it has fulfilled its obligations to pay taxes and social security contributions, if it applies; and
(e) it, or any of its directors or officers have not been convicted of any criminal offence relating to professional conduct or the making of false statements or misrepresentations as to its qualifications to enter into a procurement contract within a period of three years preceding the commencement of procurement proceedings, and that it is not subject to debarment.
Now the fact that it is being investigated for criminality makes the above untenable- if a charge and conviction holds. So GoTG are taking a massive risk with Semlex either way.
Usurpation of Parliamentary Powers and Executive over reach:
There was an Inquiry ongoing when they signed the contract.
We are alarmed by the utterances made by Amie Bojang-Sissoho the Director of Press & Public Relations Office of the President, on July 11th 2018 to the media. In her press briefing, Mrs. Bojang-Sissoho, said the following about the state of our national documents: “On the Printing of national identity cards, Semlex is the contractor and the details of the contract are being reviewed. The President has been briefed that the review process of the agreement with Semlex is at the final stages.” Clearly, the Office of the President didn’t care what the NA did and or it is doing to get to the bottom of a very controversial, unpopular, illegal and irrational deal. The president was going to get his deal with Semlex come hell or high water; forget about respect for the rule of law, and the principles of separation of powers. This was his intention- to do exactly as he pleased, which was what Jammeh also did to us for 22 years.
This administration has shown how Klitgard formula of: C= M+D-A has been fully deployed. What does this mean in plain English? It means Corruption=Monopoly +Discretion minus Accountability. The Semlex deal ticks all the boxes.
Finally, what the Interior Minister and or his PS did may or could fall under Contempt under section 110 of the 1997 constitution: “Any Act or omission, which obstructs or impedes the National in the performance of its functions or which obstructs or impedes any member or officer of the National assembly in the discharge of his or her duties of affronts the dignity of the National Assembly shall be a contempt of the National Assembly and, in addition to any liability in respect thereof under the criminal law, the offender shall be liable to reprimand or admonition by the National assembly, and if the offender is a member of the National Assembly, suspension or expulsion from the National Assembly.” We shall explore this further at a later date.
So with all this evidence at hand, the NA should call a special session and request a cancellation of the contract forthwith. We will further interrogate the contract in the coming days. We encourage you to do the same and reject it. Not in our name must this continue.
Download: Semlex 2018 Contract - version 1
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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 04 Oct 2018 : 14:09:46
October 3, 2018
The Government of The Gambia recently announced the resumption of the issuance of ID Cards which was stopped more than a year and half ago. It was announced that from the 1st October 2018, citizens will be able to apply and receive their National Identity Cards at the cost of four hundred and fifty dalasis (D450).
However, this decision has caused a lot of brouhaha in the country mainly on two fronts. The first one is on the issue of the cost. It is said that D450 is too expensive and may not be affordable by majority of the people in the country.
The second reason that citizens are complaining is the company with which The Gambia Government signed an agreement to issue the ID Cards. Semlex, a Belgian company, is said to be under investigations in Belgium and has been accused of fraudulent behaviour in some other African countries like The Comoros and Congo.
The issuing of a National Identity Card is important because mostly citizens are asked to produce it in order to prove that they are citizens of the country when they go to banks, hospitals or some other important places in the country.
The importance of the ID Card is what makes it a document that should be easily accessible and affordable by all citizens. Pegging the price at four hundred and fifty dalasis will certainly be a burden on majority of the people.
Government should therefore find a way of reducing the cost so that the people will have the ability to get it without much difficulty. The current cost is unacceptable and does not reflect the plight of the many low-earning Gambians.
http://standard.gm/site/2018/10/03/on-the-expensive-id-cards/ |
| Momodou |
Posted - 01 Oct 2018 : 20:48:05
Culled from Right 23 Know - Gambia
By Jeggan Grey-Johnson
Dear R2Kers:
Attached is the contract that GoTG signed with Semlex. As you will see the contract raises so many red flags. The mere fact that in the contract under point 7- they are now admitting that this is a NEW contract. Something they denied all along, claiming that their hands were tied. And that there was no way to extricate itself from the original contract.
You will also recall that on January 4th 2018, Pristine submitted its proposals to GoTG when asked to do so in order to assess the possibility of reissuing of the Bio metric contract to bidders. Semlex did not submit a single piece of paper to GoTG because they “Maintained their position that they still had a valid contract with the Government”, to quote the Minister of Justice.
This new contract contradicts everything and reasons advanced for sticking to the old contract.
On the issue of tax exemptions: it seems that Semlex will enjoy the following at our expense:
1. It is unclear who is getting 60% and who is getting 40%; and how that arrangement was arrived at.
2. The tax exemptions are wide, and includes almost everything that Semlex says it owns, including importation of cars- which is laughable.
3. Also the fact that they need a duty waiver contradicts both Mai Fatty's pronouncements in public and to the National Assembly that Semlex had imported 10 million USD of equipment- if that were true, then why the need for another exemption?
On issue of possible capital flight:
1. The contract gives Semlex 100% Carte blanche to engage in capital flight with impunity, which paves the way for easy illicit flows of cash and money laundering.
This contract should be rescinded by the NA immediately. And those that are responsible for such a criminal undertaking be brought to book.
None of the guidelines in the GPPA were followed for example if they wanted to single source this contract the following HAD to be done:
1. The Minister responsible for Defence, with the approval of the Minister responsible for Finance, determines that a procurement is related to national defence or national security; (this was never done).
2. The President may by order published in the gazette, exempt any procuring organisation from requiring the approval of the Authority with respect to any procurement in whole or in part, and in such case the Cabinet shall be responsible for giving such approvals instead of the Authority. This was never done.
Finally aside from all these, Semelx must prove that is has the legal capacity to enter into the contract;
(c) it is not insolvent, in receivership, bankrupt or being wound up, its business activities have not been suspended, and it is not the subject of legal proceedings for any of the foregoing;
(d) it has fulfilled its obligations to pay taxes and social security contributions, if it applies; and
(e) it, or any of its directors or officers have not been convicted of any criminal offence relating to professional conduct or the making of false statements or misrepresentations as to its qualifications to enter into a procurement contract within a period of three years preceding the commencement of procurement proceedings, and that it is not subject to debarment.
Now the fact that it is being investigated for criminality makes the above untenable- if a charge and conviction holds. So GoTG are taking a massive risk with Semlex either way.
Usurpation of Parliamentary Powers and Executive over reach:
There was an Inquiry ongoing when they signed the contract.
We are alarmed by the utterances made by Amie Bojang-Sissoho the Director of Press & Public Relations Office of the President, on July 11th 2018 to the media. In her press briefing, Mrs. Bojang-Sissoho, said the following about the state of our national documents: “On the Printing of national identity cards, Semlex is the contractor and the details of the contract are being reviewed. The President has been briefed that the review process of the agreement with Semlex is at the final stages.” Clearly, the Office of the President didn’t care what the NA did and or it is doing to get to the bottom of a very controversial, unpopular, illegal and irrational deal. The president was going to get his deal with Semlex come hell or high water; forget about respect for the rule of law, and the principles of separation of powers. This was his intention- to do exactly as he pleased, which was what Jammeh also did to us for 22 years.
This administration has shown how Klitgard formula of: C= M+D-A has been fully deployed. What does this mean in plain English? It means Corruption=Monopoly +Discretion minus Accountability. The Semlex deal ticks all the boxes.
Finally, what the Interior Minister and or his PS did may or could fall under Contempt under section 110 of the 1997 constitution: “Any Act or omission, which obstructs or impedes the National in the performance of its functions or which obstructs or impedes any member or officer of the National assembly in the discharge of his or her duties of affronts the dignity of the National Assembly shall be a contempt of the National Assembly and, in addition to any liability in respect thereof under the criminal law, the offender shall be liable to reprimand or admonition by the National assembly, and if the offender is a member of the National Assembly, suspension or expulsion from the National Assembly.” We shall explore this further at a later date.
So with all this evidence at hand, the NA should call a special session and request a cancellation of the contract forthwith. We will further interrogate the contract in the coming days. We encourage you to do the same and reject it. Not in our name must this continue.
Download: Semlex 2018 Contract - version 1
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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 01 Oct 2018 : 17:58:12
It would be very interesting to be able to read a copy of the contract as presumably it is in the public domain,just a thought.
The Contract was signed by an elected representative of the people of Gambia on advice from those who are experts in contract matters.
Everything in today's world appears to be bound by contracts that are enforceable in a court of law,of a particular country.
That's "Business" today.!!
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/interfering
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
Few salient elements of the new SEMLEX contract negotiated and signed on 19th July, 2018
- The contract prohibits the Barrow government from “interfering” with any third parties selected by Semlex as investors or partners, not even when the investors or partners have been convicted criminals or are subject of any Commission of Inquiry.
- SEMLEX can, under the contract, repatriate profits to anywhere without limits on the amount and at any time.
- Perhaps the most egregious clause of the contract states that “the validity and continuity of this contract shall not be affected by any institutional change within The Gambia.”
Why would anyone sign such a contract? Why?
Sidi Sanneh
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| Momodou |
Posted - 01 Oct 2018 : 11:53:21
Few salient elements of the new SEMLEX contract negotiated and signed on 19th July, 2018
- The contract prohibits the Barrow government from “interfering” with any third parties selected by Semlex as investors or partners, not even when the investors or partners have been convicted criminals or are subject of any Commission of Inquiry.
- SEMLEX can, under the contract, repatriate profits to anywhere without limits on the amount and at any time.
- Perhaps the most egregious clause of the contract states that “the validity and continuity of this contract shall not be affected by any institutional change within The Gambia.”
Why would anyone sign such a contract? Why?
Sidi Sanneh
|
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 26 Sep 2018 : 16:01:15
"It is the requirement of the law for Gambians to have ID cards once they reach the age of 18 years. It has been made an offence to move about without an ID card."
Gambia is a developing country and reliant on aid ,grants from organisations and goverments together with gifts from those living and hopefully working in other countries to help the country prosper as jobs are hard to find,it is quite often the case that only one person in a compound is working and receiving a salary he or she provides the money for survival of all those in the compound.Gambia is a host and home for MANY NON GAMBIANS who have decided that Gambia offers them more from the countries they have traveled from.
Carrying an ID card when going out is a small inconvenience for a proud th e Gambian Citizen.
======================================================================
The Debate Continues On ID Cards
Foroyaa: September 25, 2018
It is the requirement of the law for Gambians to have ID cards once they reach the age of 18 years. It has been made an offence to move about without an ID card.
Many Gambians are wondering what the policy of the current government is on ID cards. The policy of the government will determine what type of law will exists governing ID cards.
Some of the comments made by some of our readers are food of thought. They have asked us to explain why the voter’s card can be obtained free of charge at the age of 18 years while the ID card is acquired with a cost at the age of 18 years. According to some readers many 18 year old are either unemployed or are still going to school, thus passing on the cost of the ID cards to the parents or guardians. It is the view of many that the voter’s card and the ID card should be twinned so that acquiring one should be automatically followed by acquiring the other. In this case the ID card should be the first instrument followed by the voter’s card which should be acquired free of charge.
Citizenship comes with right to national identity. Since the ID card attests to citizenship and national identity it should be acquired free of charge.
http://foroyaa.gm/the-debate-continues-on-id-cards/ |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 26 Sep 2018 : 15:42:23
HELLO DEAR READER 
If all the banks in Gambia and got together to let customers open a personal bank account with a small amount of money they would open a special savings account loaded with D10 so Gambians could save for their taxes,ID card payments of customer specified small amounts transferred from their current bank account,for those who have to pay compound tax that could also be added to the customers TAX Payment ACCOUNT,the same could be incorporated into commercial enterprises.This idea could work for URBAN dwellers but isolated areas would pose a problem, I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON FINANCIAL MATTERS OR BANKING PRACTICES,if the NEW GAMBIA is to function as a dynamic country then the days of barter must end and the Dalasi must form the basis of trade.COMMENTS FROM EXPERTS IN BANKING AND MATTERS FINANCIAL ARE REQUESTED. Thank you Dear Reader I await you comments . 
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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 26 Sep 2018 : 15:40:39
MUHAMMED S. BAH September 25, 2018
The Minister of Interior Ebrima Mballow, said the validity period for the new Gambian Identity card is five years. In justifying the cost of the card, Mballow said it is biometric and has features that are of international standard.
Notifying him on the concerns raised by people that the new card is expensive, the Minister said the ID card is a statutory document and is not like previous ordinary ID cards; that this one is a National document of good quality. “Even if you make this document for D100, some people will still complain,” he said; that the ID card is for the security of every Gambian; that for two years, people have been waiting for the ID card.
Mballow announced that the issuance of the ID card will be open to the general public from October 1st 2018, at the Biometric Headquarters in Kanifing; that before the end of the year the issuing will be decentralized across the country; that the New ID card has features just like the passport, and that all five finger prints are taken, including the holder’s digital picture.
He was asked whether the ID card is the ECOWAS ID, and he answered in the negative. He was however quick to say that was in the pipeline and that when it comes, the General public will be informed.
He said that a press release will be issue to educate people on the requirements one needs to fulfill, to get for the New ID card. “It does not mean if you are born in the Gambia, you can get this ID. But you have to meet the requirements stated by Law,” he said.
The price of the new ID card still remains a concern for citizens, the issue is still raised on various platforms that the price is too high for the ordinary Gambian to come by, and will continue to ask Government to reduce it.
http://foroyaa.gm/five-year-duration-for-new-id-card-interior-minister/ |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 25 Sep 2018 : 17:12:39
"The Gambia Immigration Department, Mr. Buba A. Sagnia, said each applicant must either produce an old ID document, birth certificate, voters’ card, or a copy of a passport as proof of Gambian citizenship."
==================================================================
The idea of a GAMBIAN CITIZEN Id card is to be applauded BUT the total population of the Gambia is NOT KNOWN as reliable paper records do no exist in many cases (Registrations of Birth,Registrations of death etc) borders with other countries have been porous to say the least ,some families have been living on Gambia soil for a considerable period of time,what will they be able to do to remain in their homes in Gambia ? Will MASS deportations take place ? I think that some form of visa may be a temporary answer bearing a FIXED EXPIRY DATE and also an opportunity given to NON GAMBIANS to undertake a programme so that they can become citizens of the NEW GAMBIA.
EXTENSIVE changes in the lives of a great number of Gambian residents could lead to many unforseen problems ,a look at the problems being experienced by THOUSANDS of MIGRANTS on the move to EUROPE from their HOMELAND in AFRICA and THE MIDDLE EAST,because of raging wars,starvation sickness.
The Cost of an ID card for the NEW Gambia is not affordable for many Gambians.It is little wonder that such a plan as this has taken a very long time to roll out. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IS DONE,we will have to wait to see how the plan progresses and if any enforcement action will be taken if a breach of the rules occurs. |
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