By Fatoumata Joof
The Minister of Interior on Wednesday, 22nd of June, 2022 presided over the inauguration of the newly constructed Technical and Vocational Training Centre (TVET) , a legal aid office and a renovated female wing at the Janjangbureh Prison, in the Central River Region.
The facilities are funded by the UNDP in partnership with Insight Training Centre. This development came as part of the Ministry’s continual engagements with donor partners for support towards the realisation of the wider prisons reform programme; in particular, the reformation of the Gambia Prison Services in accordance with the UN’s Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules).
In his welcome remarks during the occasion, the Director General of The Gambia Prison Service, Mr. Ansumana Manneh affirmed that the initiative is in accordance with the Gambia Prison Service’s efforts to collaborate with stakeholders to address challenges associated with the reform programmes that were identified through various assessments by UNDP, UNODC, SSR, and TRRC.
“The availability of these projects; especially the Legal Aid Desk, will address and expedite most of the court cases, as it is the main cause of overcrowding in the remand wings by facilitating access for inmates to their legal representatives in the quickest possible time,” he stated.
DG Manneh announced that his department has received support from the UNDP in partnership with The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to among other things: complete two dormitories at Old Jeshwang Prison with two hundred bunk beds and mattresses; provide a thirty-sitter bus to ease the movement of staff ; refurbish the sanitary facilities at Mile II staff quarters, including the restoration of facilities at staff kitchens; upgrade and expand the medical facility at Mile II and also train staff on Case Management System; and provide PPEs to combat COVID -19.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony in Janjangbureh, the Minister of Interior, Mr. Seyaka Sonko said The Gmbia will truly achieve its development aspirations only when we optimise and realise the full potential of the citizens. This, he said can only be realised when we train and equip them with the requisite knowledge and skills for employment and self-employment.
The Interior Minister further pointed out that it is common knowledge that The Gambia Prison Service, like most other institutions, needs institutional reform to always ensure efficient service delivery and the protection of the human rights of inmates. “The legal Aid Desk within the prison will no doubt increase access to legal service and justice for inmates. The renovation of the female wing of the prison will protect the privacy of female inmates and ensure that they live a life of dignity. Therefore, the provision of Legal Aid Desk and the renovation of the female wing is a crucial step for the Prisons Reform and Gambia’s transition to consolidating democratic governance, respect for the rule of law and human rights’’, he affirmed.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country representative inThe Gambia, Ms. Aissata De explained that UNDP’s rule of law programme provides legal empowerment to marginalised groups, improves access to justice, and helps communities to deal with legacies of conflict. “Prisons are a fundamental component part of the criminal justice system and an integral part of the rule of law sector. UNDP has supported the development of critical assessments and strategies for The Gambia Prison Services, to ensure that the Prison and its needs are not forgotten during this historic reform period for The Gambia”.
The Chief Executive Officer of Insight Training Centre, Mr. Ismaila Ceesay said the mission of his institution is to train youths and empower them so that they contribute to the meaningful development of the country.
He said they have been tasked to provide skill training at the Mile II Prisons, through partnerships with other institutions. “We have trained 235 inmates from the Mile II prisons, provided 27 inmates each with 3000 to take home to their families, and raised more than 40,000 Dalasis as an emergency fund for inmates’’, he said.