Police in the Gambia have promised to come down heavily on parents who allow their children to loiter or engage in petty trade as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.The number of coronavirus cases have skyrocketed in the Gambia in recent weeks prompting the government to introduce restrictions on trade, schools, travel and worship.
But the police say they are greatly concerned that children especially of school going age are left on the highways, markets, car parks, and other public places engaged in petty trading, selling of bananas, water, groundnuts among other things.
“Most of these are school going children and therefore expected to be staying at home protected from Covid-19,” a statement from the head of the Gambian police said.
“This is the ultimate purpose for the closure of schools by the Ministry of Education. It is however sad to see many of these vulnerable children exposed to negative vices and societal ills with potential to harm their future. In certain instances they are even involved in Road Traffic Accidents along the highways.”
Although most of child hawkers using the revenue from the sales to pay their tuition fees and buy food, police have strongly advised their parents to ensure that they stay at home and not left loitering or selling along the roads and markets.
“Parents or guardians who are found negligent will be held accountable for failure to protect children from covid-19 and related dangers,” the police warned.
How about first providing for those children and or their families before unnecessarily unleashing the brutes on them, for nothing more than the crime of wanting to provide a decent meal for an entire family?
I have said it and I will never stop saying it, The Gambia Police Force is a criminal entity out to project the ruling elite class and their affiliates. When it’s the meek and the weak, it’s clampdown till sundown.