As part of his nationwide tour, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Masanneh Kinteh, accompanied by a high-powered delegation  Friday met the Upper River Region security officials together with some community leaders including the deputy governor, Mohammed S Jallow,  APRC?regional chairman Hammeh Jabou Kurubally and the chief of Fulladou East, Hammeh Minteh Kurabally among others at a ceremony held at the governor?s bantaba in Basse.

Speaking at the gathering, Lt Gen. Kinteh explained the rationale behind the tour. According to him, as the CDS of the GAF, he was advised by the Commander-In-Chief to visit members of the GAF throughout the country. He said there can?t be any meaningful development in any country without peace and stability. He further stressed that they were given leadership as a trust, something which he said must not be betrayed.

He added that peace and security is their priority. Kinteh further said: ?We must love our country, our leader, the Gambian people and our constitution.?  He went on to disclose that this is the advise he always gives to members of GAF. Commenting on the strategic location of Basse, he stated that the town is a very relevant and unique location for the country and that they will figure out ways to strengthen its security. He finally urged the people to pray for President Jammeh so as to enable him achieve his goals for the country. For his part, Omar Sampo Ceesay, the chairman of the Basse Area Council hailed the security officers in URR. He said the recent statistics of crime rate in the region has significantly reduced due to the commitment and round the clock security patrol in the region.

The chief of Fulladu East, Hammeh Minteh Kurubally, urged the civilians to work hand in hand with the security operatives to ensure peace and stability in the country. He hailed Lt Gen. Kinteh saying ?there has been a significance improvement in the area of security since he took over the CDS position?. Other speakers included Aja Mariama Jawo, lady councilor of Basse and Hammeh Jabou Kurubally, the URR APRC regional chairman. Alkalos from various villages including Nasiru Barry of Basse all prayed for the Gambian leader  and Lt Gen. Kinteh.

Yundum
At Yundum military barracks in the second leg of his nationwide tour, the CDS urged the soldiers and officers of GAF to be part of the solution and not to be part of the problem.

He called for attitudinal change, greater accountability and proper checks and balances among serving members of the Gambia Armed Forces so as to ensure a kind of inward discipline in the military. He also urged the officers and soldiers to identify where there is waste and take corrective measures. He assured the troops that the president and commander-in-chief of GAF is ready to provide everything under the sun for GAF.

Kinteh further warned that without the culture of maintenance, care and a sense of belonging and ownership, nothing would be achieved and quickly called on soldiers and officers to be professional in the execution of their routine duties with a high sense of responsibility, accountability and loyalty to the state, the people of The Gambia and the president and commander-in-chief.

He also reminded the gathering that GAF has a noble and fundamental role as every inch of the country?s territory is under its purview. He advised them to note that the only way to achieve this noble task is through training which would provide soldiers and officers with the right frame of mind to exercise their constitutional mandates and other assigned rules and responsibilities which would ultimately get GAF on the right track. It could be recalled that the Lt Gen Kinteh and a high-powered delegation began the nationwide tour of military installations on 20 January which took him and delegation as far as Basse. This tour which is in line with the CDS 2010 training directives is meant to obtain first hand information.