By Fatou Dahaba

Youths Against Irregular Migration (YAIM) in partnership with Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) has recently conducted public event sensitization caravan on effects of irregular migration in the North Bank Region (NBR) and Central River Region North (CRR).

The team engaged students of Badibu Njaba Kunda Upper and Senior Secondary School in NBR and Panchang Basic Cycle in CRR/North in a school gathering were returnees shared their experiences and opportunities available for young people in the Gambia.

Oumie Camara and Fatou Bojang female returnees shared their story with students. They said they embarked on the journey in search of greener pasture not knowing they are going to risk their own life just to have a better living in Europe.

They narrate that the challenges and hardships they went through during their journey cannot be over emphasized; according them as a female migrant they face lots of abuses and sexual violence on the back way journey.

The day also avail students the opportunity to ask questions related to the experience shared by returnees on some of the dangers they encounter on the perilous journey.

The regional youth chairperson of National Youth Council Mr. Shriffo Mboge who double as the chair of the ceremony disclosed that irregular migration have affected every family and community of Gambia noting central Badibu is vulnerable on irregular migration.

COOPI have a protection team that work on mental health and cyco social support and part of the cyco social support is awareness raising on the effects of irregular migration.

Fatou Suwareh a student urged her fellow students to stay away from back way while encouraging them to utilize on the opportunities available for them in the country.

By Fatou Dahaba

Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC) in collaboration with Social Security and Housing Finance Cooperation has recently commissioned 20 brand new buses at its lead depot in Kanifing Industrial Area.

The 20 buses they commission are in three categories: 3 are mid-size buses fully air condition with capacity of 26 of all seated, 9 ordinary buses with green color and 57 severs with 70 passengers of some siting and some standing which stops at every village from Kombo to Basse as well as the green large buses that are fully air condition meant for their express services they are also 57 seat in 3 by 2 seat configuration.

The remaining 5 they are expecting are coaches one flat ship buses of GTSC somehow customize for their esteem passengers to ensure that they travel in comfort and safety.

Seedy Kanyi General Manager of GTSC said this is their fourth generation of buses commissioning, totally 25 but on the ground 20. He said this was possible through the support of the parent company SSHFC as they provided the bulk of the fun while the small remaining by GTSC adding they are always grateful for that parental care.

Kanyi cited that GTSC by virtue of its ownership is totally own by Social Security and Housing Finance Cooperation which is a company that belong to all workers both private and public sectors.

This development fairly symbolize the level of commitment SSHFC is doing for the GTSC, the millions could have been invested in somewhere else but they want to ensure that the company is well manage and safeguarded, he added.

GTSC boss further said that “laminkoto passamas road about to be inaugurated is one of our target areas likewise the Wuli and Sandu will be service.”

He added that the buses will enable them to have more than one express service in a day and they want to extend their service in other countries within the sub region and this will open market for Gambian travelers.

Mohamadou Manjang Board Chairman of GTSC thanked the management of GTSC for the tremendous effort. He said SSHFC and GTSC association started in 2013 when they first invested in 50 buses to restart the then liquidated Gambia Public Transport Company.

Their investment in transport sector then and over the years has help improve quality of life for millions of people who were previous excluded from the economic.

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— Oscar Wilde.

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