US Coast Guard Trains Ports Security Personnel

The United States Coast Guard on Wednesday 3rd June 2009 concluded a two-day training on ports security for various security apparatus that operates at the vicinity of the seaports.

Speaking at the closing session of the workshop, Mr. Brian D. Bachman, the US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, hailed the GPA for their support in making the retreat a success.

Bachman also thanked all the agencies that participated in the workshop namely, Navy, Police, NIA, Immigration, GPA Security, Customs and the Ministry of Health.

He noted that the Port of Banjul is an important lifeline for the country and the only seaport for the Gambia, thus the need to keep it safe.

According to him, the Gambian Navy requested the workshop in 2006, and happily the US Coast Guard responded to it.

He said the Coast Guard is one of America’s foremost establishments that are tasked with protecting the US frontiers.

For his part, Director of Traffic Operation GPA, Ousman Jorbateh said that it has always been the wish of the ports to ensure security at the port.

“We have been working with all stakeholders to ensure that the port is secured”, he stressed.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the award of certificates to the participants, both Bill Solter, a course instructor from the US, Lieutenant Bill Soter, a resource person from the US Coast Guards, said over the past two days they discussed the importance of the Port of Banjul, talked about vulnerabilities, threats, identified the need for port security, as well as conducted field exercise and identified areas of concern.