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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Sep 2009 : 18:40:38
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National Assembly Discussed Armed Forces
As Military Agreement is ratified
By Saikou Jammeh
As National Assembly members ratified the agreement between the Republics of The Gambia and Turkey on the field of military training, some Members suggested to the Minister of Interior, Mr. Ousman Sonko to think of transforming the Army into a more productive sector.
The agreement between the two countries will avail Gambian soldiers the opportunity to embark on various training courses in Turkey including military science, defense industry, Navy and military, health, among others.
However some members of the National Assembly have expressed concern over the money spent on the Gambia National Army over the years, while ‘neglecting’ the need to build their capacity on productive sectors.
As the NAM for Tumana Netty Baldeh put it, in a state of emergency, only the military is able to carry out operations and they must be able to do it. “What happens if there is a major strike, how are we going to get electricity if our Army does not know how to operate our generators, our distribution lines and hospitals to name a few.
“Everything we do in the country should be available in the Army. It should be independent on the rest of us. The army is an economic unit it should be improved by being productive not on a small scale, but large training.
I proposed that our Army need to be able to fly high to space, do rocket science before the private individuals. So it is important that the Army be modernized like the German Army that does everything, construction, engineering etc. they are being paid for.
Hon. Sedia Jatta of Wuli West also buttressed the need for soldiers to be trained on life skills so as to become more productive. This he added, will also help them in the future in case they leave the service on retirement or other reasons to continue with their profession because as he said some soldiers get frustrated after leaving service because they do not have the any idea to go for other professions. Some he added, even fear to leave the Army as a result of this even if there is need for them to leave.
Source: The Daily News
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