By Isatou Jawara
The National Environment Agency in collaboration with the Joint Operation Center (JOC) recently organized a two-day training and sensitization of Security Officers in official border posts in LRR, NBR, CRR, URR as well as settlements believed to be transportation routes for the illegal movement of chemicals and waste.
The training held in mansakonko was aimed at strengthening the technical capacity of security officers at various border posts and settlements within major trade routes, intending to improve their participation in the control of illegal traffic of chemicals and waste in the country.
The Governor of Lower River Region (LRR), Lamin Seedy Bah disclosed that the government has shown full commitment to the protection of the environment as a vital component of sustainable development.
He informed that the government has partnered with development partners such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in the implementation of various Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) such as those dealing with the sustainable and sound management of chemicals and waste.
The Executive Director of NEA, Mr. Dawda Badjie said Chemicals are important determinants for sustainable development, sound environmental health and quality of life.
“While the use of chemicals in all human activities (e.g. agriculture, health, energy production, manufacture, services and residential) contributes to improving the quality of life, it also raises concerns about its harmful effects on workers, consumers, the environment and society at large through exposure,’’ he said.
He pointed out that the government in partnership with UNEP Special Program Secretariat is implementing the project as part of the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), The Basel Convention on control of the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal, The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure, The Minamata Convention on Mercury and Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).
He added that The Gambia has ratified all the aforementioned conventions with the ultimate aim to protect human health and the environment.
“It has been observed that most chemicals coming into the country pass through our porous borders and there is not much control of the illegal trafficking of these chemicals and other hazardous waste to fight this situation,’’ he lamented.
He urged the trainees to play proactive roles in achieving their desired goals in environmental preservation.
