By Olimatou Coker
Smart Business Group Limited (SBG) recently donated the Gambia Prison Services with 1,800 facemasks and sanitary items at a presentation held at the central prisons head office.
Other items included 5 thermometer machines, 15 washing buckets, 60 bottles of bleach, 100 sachets of Omo.
Speaking, Momodou Lamin Ceesay, the Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Prison Services, said the donated items will help complement the efforts of the government.
“We all know that the institution is faced with so many challenges, we can hear from the TRRC hearings so many stories have been said about the institution that tells everyone that we really need support from individuals, agencies, NGOs and government because the people in custody are our own people,” he said.
He thanked the SBG team for choosing the central prison when the country is really in need of help especially the prison department. He added that the importance of the donation cannot be overemphasized.
“We hope this will be a continuous process”.
For his part, Omar Njie, donor and the proprietor of Smart Business Group, said it is mandatory for everyone to wear a mask so as concerned citizens, they want to contribute their quarter in the fight against the spread of Covid-19 in the country donating to the prisoners and the entire prison department.
He said they want people to come on board and help the prison service. “We are calling on the government, individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the prison department because we have all heard witnesses at the ongoing TRRC. The conditions the prisoners are going through are really bad and we are in very trying times right now,” he explained.
He stated that the prison should be a correction centre, that people get into there be corrected and come out and be embraced by the society.
Saikou Kawsu Gassama, Director of Administration Gambia Prison Services, expressed gratitude in receiving the donation.
He said the items will go a long way in making the prison free from Covid-19.
