The Gambia is a signatory to many international instruments designed to protect the environment. In addition to that, every government is tasked with protecting and safeguarding its citizens from every possible harm. This of course includes protecting the environment from anything – economic or otherwise – that may lead to health hazards.
The current predicament in Gunjur caused by the fishing and processing done by the Chinese Company, Golden Lead Factory is potentially causing health hazards to the natives and destroying our environment, potentially violating one or all the treaties on environmentthat we are a signatory to.
A few months ago, many activists in the Gambia, including my humble self, wrote about the environmental damage being caused by this same company on the beaches of Gunjur and its surroundings. There was a lot of noise and government, through the National Environment Agency (NEA) seemed to be doing something about it. There was hope therefore that your government will find a lasting solution which will result in the protection and safeguarding of the health of the people of Gunjur and environs and protect our environment.
Haplessly, it appears that the government didn’t do much; or whatever it did has worn off as the company has defiantly, as it were, flown the Chinese Flag on Gambian soil.This is an affront to our sovereignty and government must do something about it immediately. We must not allow the Chinese to behave insultingly to us just because we need investment. A flag is a symbol of a nation-state that has control economically, culturally and even militarily over an area. So, it is not a small matter if another country’s nationals have the audacity to hoist their flag on our land.
At the moment, China itself has imposed a ban on fishing on three of its rivers and is at loggerheads with many of its neighboring countries because they are not allowing them to use their waters. The World Bank estimates that China consumes one third of the world’s fish due to its huge population. As the population of that nation increases, their need for fish and other products also increases thus they find other ways of meeting that demand. They do not want to completely deplete the fish in their waters and they come to Africa where due to weak governments – due to poverty – they can bribe their way through and take our fish stock.
For these and other reasons, the citizens of the country are apprehensive of the intentions of the government and people of China. The symbolic hoisting of their flag may be a precursor to economic or other domination of the Gambia. We want to safeguard our sovereignty and make use that our territorial integrity is respected.
We demand answers, Mr President, and quickly.
Have a Good Day Mr President…
Tha Scribbler Bah
A Concerned Citizen
