Editorial

The maintenance of a just social system that is capable of restraining people from venturing into anti-social vices like drug abuse, which can eventually push people to delinquency, is fundamental.

In respect of these, we deem it imperative to echo the calls made by the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, while presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of  the newly-appointed judges on Monday, that there will be zero tolerance for criminality and drug trafficking in this country. This stance of the president is indeed laudable and should be heeded to by the institution that is charged with the responsibility of administering  justice. It takes only a people-centred government; ie a government that puts the people at the centre of its governance agenda, to call on the citizenry to refrain from activities that will only retard social progress.

We all know that drugs are not socially friendly. Drug abuse of any kind can cause havoc and malfunction in the development process of our beloved country. It can lure our country’s youth into activities that would only lead to self-destruction, and this would have adverse effects on the nation at large. Therefore, like President Jammeh said, it should be the collective responsibility of every genuine Gambian, especially those at the helm of authority, to make sure that the country  is free from any activity that might be an obstacle to national development, security and more seriously, detrimental to the health of the people.   

We have seen how some criminal activities like drug trafficking impacted negatively on some renowned narcotic states. Drug and criminality are interrelated and so it is imperative to say that an active drug trafficking state is always a  haven for criminals and criminal activities. This is why President Jammeh stated that where there is drug trafficking, there  are always threats to peace and tranquility because  those involved would always want to defend themselves with dangerous weapons when they are raided. Drug addiction could also lead to brutality; hence the users could become unconscious after taking the intoxicant. Again, drug trafficking and usage can erode discipline, turn the people against their own progress and above all transform the country into a safe haven for bandits.

Gambia is well appreciated for being a country of peace and love in the eyes of the rest of the  world. We should therefore jealously safeguard this image and never allow criminals to jeopadise the progress of our development process. We would like every guinuine Gambian to be involved in the fight against drug trafficking and criminality, for the interest of the present and future generations. This will in turn  instill good behaviour and maximum discipline in the country, where our ethical and social norms and values will be respected and observed.

We are optimistic that the security apparatus particularly the police force will champion the fight against drug trafficking and criminality so that the country can continue to flourish in peace and tranquility.