26 Persons Convicted For Violating Operation Clear The Roads

At least 56 people were last week arrested for being non-compliant with the police operations designed to dismantle illegal structures of the highways. Twenty-six were arraigned before a court and sentenced to pay a fine of D1000 each after they pleaded guilty. The rest are expected to be arraigned before the court today to answer to the charges levelled against them. This development was confirmed by the acting police spokesperson, Cadet ASP Modou Sissaho during a short visit by the GPF Taskforce headed by Landing Bojang and accompanied by Police Commissioner King Colley and other senior officers to Abuko where 51 cattle were confined as a result of loitering on the highway in various places. The said cattle were eventually taken to a designated place in Abuko, where owners were expected to come and identify their livestock. National Livestock Owners Association (NALOA) which is among the GPF Taskforce was also given the responsibility of ensuring that any cattle owner who comes to identify his or her animal pays a fine of D5,000. According to PRO Cadet ASP Sissaho, this fine of D5,000 per head of cattle was agreed by the GPF Taskforce headed by Landing Bojang and assisted by Police Commissioner King Colley. He cited that the initial arrangement per cattle was D5,500 but the Taskforce reduced it to (D5,000) per cattle. The police PRO explained that one of the reasons for coming up with the D5,000 fine is to ensure that livestock owners take full responsibility of their animals. “This will serve as a deterrent to others,” he said, while indicating that serious accidents sometimes occur as a result of cattle loitering on the road. He emphasised that GPF has established a monitoring team for the operation to clear the road and anyone found wanting will face the full force of the law. He added that the operation spares no one as it is national duty. Ebrima O. Jallow, president of NALOA, confirmed that the confined cattle were picked from various locations within the Greater Banjul Area and West Coast Region. He said this was part of the operation to clear the road. He seized the opportunity to plead with the Taskforce to reduce the said charges for the cattle owners as things are difficult.