The Gambia National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons headed by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Ebrima Deen Savage together with the Board Chairman, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Gambia Ministry of Defense and Staff Officer from the Ministry of Interior paid a courtesy visit to Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Lahia Lawrence Leema at the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Conference room in Freetown.
The 4 man delegation from The Gambia National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons is in Sierra Leone on a four (4) day study visit to their counterpart Commission, the Sierra Leone National Commission on Small Arms.
The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Rtd. Lieutenant Lahia Lawrence Leema on behalf of the Minster of Internal Affairs, Hon. David Panda Noah welcomed the Gambian team in Sierra Leone and stated that his ministry plays a supervisory role to the Sierra National Commission on Small Arms. He explained that the Commission came into existence immediately after the conclusion of the Civil war and further mentioned that even though Sierra Leone had undergone multiple disarmament exercises, there was still the need for the establishment of the Sierra Leone National Commission on Small Arms, which he believed is contributing immensely in the use, control of illicit arms and the control of the proliferation of Small Arms and Light weapons and to a larger extent made Sierra Leone a safer place.
He discussed the deepening bilateral and cordial relations between the two countries has lasted for decades. The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs also assured the delegation that the Sierra Leone Small Arms Commission has a very good team that has the professional expertise to take them through how they have been able to manage the functional and operational mandates of the Commission.
The Sierra Leone National Commission Commissioner, Col. Rtd Binneh K Conteh (OOR) in his statement applauded the Gambian team for selecting Sierra Leone amongst other ECOWAS countries for their study tour. He maintained that there is no doubt that Sierra Leone is doing extremely well in the sub-region, in terms of controlling the proliferation and use of Small Arms and light weapons. Col. Rtd Binneh K Conteh (OOR) also expressed his appreciation to the team for coming to study the successes and challenges the commission is faced since its inception in 2010 to date. He made a presentation on the historical background of Sierra Leone, highlighting significant historical cultures and beliefs.
Col Rtd Binneh K Conteh further commended the Gambian team for making the trip despite the challenges faced before their study visit. He stated that The Gambia Commission will not regret coming to understudy the Sierra Leone Commission on Small Arms and assured them of a fruitful 4 four days study tour.
He further explained that the commission has a Firearms Licensing Bureau which is headed by a female Police Officer attached to the Commission. He then went on to say that the Program Officer Mr. Wilphred S. Taylor will do a PowerPoint presentation on the status of the commissioner since its inception which he believed is a step in the right direction for The Gambia Commission.
In his response, the Executive Secretary Mr. Ebrima Deen Savage expressed gratitude to the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, the Commissioner and his team for allowing them to undertake the study visit which he believes will give them an excellent opportunity to replicate the process and operational skills of the Commission. He maintained that he and his team are anticipating more bilateral cooperation between both countries. He emphasized that they are in Sierra Leone to learn everything: – from filing system, asset management, administration, operations and more
In closing, he said “we will adapt what you have done and are doing when we go back to The Gambia.’
For further inquiries, please contact the communications unit of the Sierra Leone National Commission on Small Arms, State Avenue Freetown.
