By: Kemo Kanyi
Assan Martin, a human rights activist, has suggested that the Gambia Police Force undergo refresher training to improve their capacities in adherence to safety protocols.
In an interview with The Voice on Monday, Mr. Martin spotlighted that there were a lot of mistakes within the Gambia Police Force, especially among the younger serving officers, citing a need for more training platforms for the force.
He expressed disapproval and discontent with the actions of the police in the recent unrest at Lamin Mandinaring, suggesting, “They need to undergo effective refresher courses. The country needs good institutions. I believe our men in uniform need to be retrained and understand when to deal with evidence or arrest in the course of their mandate as per the provisions of the law.” He maintains that the tension and confrontation between the police and civilians must serve the interest of justice at all times.
The veteran lawyer urged the police and the government to expedite the investigation into the death of Omar Badjie and duly informed the family of the deceased and the public of the cause of demise, as the system of accountability demands. “Postmortem should be swiftly conducted to ascertain whether he was beaten and if any officer is found wanting, those responsible should face the full force of the law.
He argues that the government sending its representatives to the deceased family after all the chaos that followed was a misstep, implying that it would have been best done at the initial stages to prevent the violent protest.
Assan Martin added that Gambians are experiencing a total failure of leadership, urging citizens to deny the current dispensation any chance of advancement in the governance of the country.
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