Lamin Jatta, public relations officer of The Gambia Immigration Department, has stressed that Laissez Passé is obtainable freely by any alien who wishes to enter the country, "as stated by the Immigration Act, Laws of The Gambia."

PRO Jatta made this remark on Monday afternoon, during an interview with the Daily Observer. His statement came following complaints put forward by some alien drivers that some Gambian immigration officers demand the document. A lot of fingers have been pointed at the Immigration post at Amdallai Border.

The Immigration PRO informed the Daily Observer that his department has designed posters depicting that Laissez Passé is free of charge and that it is obtainable at all Immigration posts across the country. He added that this document has a maximum validity period of 90 days, and that aliens are always issued with visitors' pass at the borders.

When asked to clarify whether police officers can ask for Laissez Passé at the border instead of Immigration officers, as allegedly stated by some aliens, PRO Jatta preferred to make no comment. But he later said that it is not to his knowledge that such a thing happens. When contacted, the police PRO ASP Sulayman Secka, said the police are not responsible for issuance of Laissez Passé, adding that it is the duty of the Immigration department. He however noted that the police and Immigration are sister institutions, and that as such the police can sometimes step in in the absence of the Immigration officers.