Today Newspaper - Online Edition - The Gambia's Quality Newspaper: Police acquire towing vehicle for sanity on roads

Police acquire towing vehicle for sanity on roads
================================================================================
MODOU BALDEH on 03 March, 2010 05:32:00
 
Speaking at the event, the Interior minister said ensuring safety on the roads
is one of the cardinal objectives of the police as there are now plans outlined
to stimulate the total eradication of mishaps on the country’s roads.
According to him, the purchase of the towing vehicle and its subsequent use are
strategic towards getting rid of many vehicles that now litter road sides. He
said with the towing vehicle, damaged vehicles and those that are parked in such
manner that causes obstruction to other road users and may cause accidents on
the roads would be towed away. While he described it as a multi-towing vehicle,
the minister said the impact of the new police towing vehicle would soon be felt
positively, as all forms of encumbrances on the roads would become history.
“Road safety is very paramount in our day to day activities. We have
witnessed series of accidents and most of these are as a result of reckless
driving or wrong packing. Most of the time, vehicles are abandoned on the
highways without reflector to alert coming vehicles that there is a packed
vehicle,” he said, adding that the use of the towing vehicle will effectively
efface these.
He also urged police authorities to ensure that the vehicle is properly taken
care of and taken for maintenance as and when due. According to him, if the
vehicle is well maintained, it will serve the purpose for which it was bought.
He also disclosed that there are plans to procure towing vehicles for the
police in all the regions, saying that in this way, the country’s highways
could be better managed while the environment could also be effectively cleaned
of abandoned vehicles.
Concerning the 29-seater Coaster van, Hon. Sonko said it was purchased with the
aim of ameliorating the transport challenges being faced by members of the
police force. According to him, the police had observed that many people find it
difficult to come to Banjul in the mornings, thus they have contributed to
achieve this feat.
He then took the opportunity to commend the Inspector General of Police and his
team for the laudable initiative. He also had words of adulation for the Gambian
leader, Sheikh Prof. Dr. Alh. Yahya AJJ Jammeh for creating the enabling
environment that led to the handing over of the two vehicles. He then called for
public support and participation in facilitating the police. He also commended
the personnel of the GPF for contributing to their own welfare through
contributing their dues to the Police Bus Welfare Fund. He assured them of his
Ministry’s support at all times.
In his speech, the Inspector General of Police, Ensa Badjie described the
occasion as another milestone in the annals of the GPF. He said the purchase of
towing vehicle will help them a lot to remove damaged vehicles, vehicles parked
illegally and those involved in accidents off the road. According to him, the
new acquisition is important in the management of the traffic.
He also said that drivers who park their vehicles at dangerous points on the
roads would have their vehicle towed away while they will be charged for
dangerous parking. “Any vehicle that we tow, the particular driver will be
charged for dangerous parking and will be fined D1,000 or more and he will also
pay for the cost of the towing,” he said.
He said the purchase of the 29-seater Coaster van was possible through
collaborative effort. “We felt that there is a need to purchase a coaster that
will complement the efforts of the other buses. By the grace of Allah and with
the approval of my Minister of Interior, Ousman Sonko, we were able to purchase
a 29-seater coaster for men and women of the Gambia Police Force and by the
grace of Allah and with the blessing of HE Sheikh Prof. Dr. Alh. Yahya AJJ
Jammeh, every four month, we will try and buy a coaster for the GPF,” he said.
He said the money used to purchase the van was deducted from the Police Bus
Welfare Fund account, which is generated through contributions within the rank
and file of the force. He said all officers contribute to the fund at the end of
the month. The contribution of each officer, he said, corresponds with his/her
rank.
Fund for the towing vehicle was sourced through the Ministry of Finance after
an approval of HE Sheikh Prof. Dr. Alh. Yahya AJJ Jammeh.