Following a little over one year of restoration works, Sanyang Police Station was on Saturday inaugurated amid pomp and ceremony.
The Gambia’s Consul to Angola, governor of West Coast Region, minister of agriculture, chairman of BAC, retired senior police officers from the area, traditional rulers and politicians from across the political divide were part of the event described as another watershed moment as far as policing in the community of Sanyang is concerned.
It would be recalled that in April of last year, angry mobs set Sanyang police station alight following a demonstration in the village over the killing of a native by a Senegalese national.
Shortly after the protests died down, the CEO of GACH Global, Dr. Abubakary Jawara, visited Sanyang to establish the ground truth.
Disheartened by what he saw at the police station, Dr. Jawara undertook to immediately rehabilitate it.
He enjoyed cooperation from the Police High Command with Mamour Jobe as IGP and works began.
However after a little over one year of rehabilitation, Sanyang police station now boasts of a living quarters, mosque, spaces for SIS, GID and DLEAG.
“I was displeased when I received the news of the incident that happened at the Sanyang police station which was unfortunate and scary,” Dr. Jawara recollected in his speech delivered at the inauguration by his brother Mr. Yusupha Jawara.
“A police station is a security place and when it is threatened then the people are equally at risk because it serves as a security centre for its people,” Dr. Jawara emphasized.
He continued: “You will all agree with me that the best commodity we export as Gambians is peace. So, anything done to maintain that peace is never a waste but a profitable investment.
“This Sanyang police station is not only for the people of Sanyang but for everyone in The Gambia whether a Gambia or not. So instead of planning to cause destruction to it, we should protect it from harm because it protects us from harm.”
Meanwhile, the reconstruction and expansion of Sanyang police station came at a huge financial cost as D2.8m has been pumped into it.
But Dr. Jawara was more concerned about the return on investment than the D2.8m ‘which I willingly and humbly sponsored as a contribution for the betterment of my country”.
“So being here to attend this occasion means a lot to me because it is a confirmation to me that my investment made a successful outcome and I am happy about that,” Dr. Jawara stated.
The Alkalo of Sanyang, Lamin Jabang, thanked Dr. Jawara for his intervention, saying the GACH CEO is now a household name in Sanyang thanks to his community development efforts.
The Chairman of Sanyang VDC, Lamin Bojang, recalled how they found it almost impossible to rebuild the station due to financial problem.
“But Jawara went to IGP Mamour Jobe and committed himself to rebuilding it(station). We thank him for that and other community development projects he financed,” Bojang acknowledged.
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Demba Sabally, described Dr. Jawara as a patriot because, according to him, only a patriot would be willing to part with close to D3m to build a police station.
The Police Commissioner West Coast Region, Pateh Jallow, harped on the need for the observance of the rule of law and promotion of peace in communities.
The Councillor of Sanyang Ward, Boto Bojang, said: “This is an important day for Sanyang. We need a police station for our protection. Dr. Abubakary Jawara, you have done something massive for Sanyang. Since you are son of Sanyang, we want you to support your compatriots.”
Meantime, the inauguration was enlivened by delightful performances by local dance and theatre groups.
