|
Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 08 Feb 2008 : 20:00:24
|
Immigration Rounds Up Beggars and Newspaper Vendors
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
Following the press released issued by the Immigration department that beggars will not be allowed begging in the streets and that strict measures will be taken against anybody doing including deportation, personnel from the Immigration department, on Tuesday, 5 February, rounded up both street vendors and wheel chair beggars who usually sit in front of banks and supermarkets around West Field junction and took them to Serrekunda Police Station.
According to the vendors, they were stunned by the move of the Immigration officers, who arrested some of them on the spot. They said they were not aware of any warning issued by the said department regarding street vendors, especially newspaper sellers. The vendors explained that they thought that the officers are only after the beggars as their press released indicates, but to their surprise they were also included in the arrest. They said that as they tried in vain to explain to the arresting officers that they, as newspaper vendors, are contributing to the country’s development since it is the papers that inform the public about developments taking place in the county; that the response from the officers was that newspapers are not working for the state but for their individual interests.
The Immigration Spokesperson, Superintendent Olimatou Jammeh Sonko, said that she is not aware of any arrest; that she understands that the clearing of beggars from traffic points is part of the operation that her office has embarked on. She asserted that most of the beggars are non Gambians; that their behaviour at the traffic junctions is endangering their own lives as well as portraying a bad image of the country, especially during the tourist season. Superintendent Jammeh Sonko said that as for child beggars (Almudos), her office will liaise with the Social Welfare to help locate their relatives before being deported out of the country to their respective countries. She said most of the “Almudos” are either staying with their relatives or marabouts; that they will conduct their enquiries to locate their parents.
On the arrest of the newspaper vendors, she said she is not aware of such an incident. The Immigration PRO told this reporter that she was not in a position to confirm the alleged arrest of wheel chair beggars and newspaper vendors at West Field. She promised to make her findings by tomorrow.
The full text of the press release from the Department of Immigration is below:
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF IMMIGRATION
In accordance with the Immigration Information Policy, the Director General of Immigration, hereby, informs the general public and the lawful custodians of “Almoudos” that street begging is becoming rampant and the Department is warning all and sundry that the act of street begging will no longer be accepted. All responsible and concern citizens are strictly warned to desist from street begging or risk arrest and possible deportation in case of alien nationals.
Therefore the Department is warning all street beggars, in the strongest terms, to desist from such behavior or risk facing the full force of the law. These acts obstruct the flow of traffic and risk the lives of others. The general public is henceforth warned to cooperate for the stability of our country. The cooperation of all stakeholders is highly solicited in this national crusade.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 16/2008, 6 – 7 February 2008
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
Topic Locked
