The Inspector General of Police, Benedict Jammeh, has utterly condemned people who drive non-security personnel vehicles and motorbikes on the beaches. This follows an exposé by the Daily Observer at Teranga beach and the chorus of concern at the turning of the beaches into car rallying scene.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Observer at his office in Banjul, IGP Benedict Jammeh emphasised that there should not be any driving on the beaches except in emergency cases. According to him, the beaches are meant for people to relax on and not to be used as highways.

“Joyful driving at the beach is unacceptable and anyone found doing it will be prosecuted. We have most of the hotels around the beaches and tourists go there to relax as well as Gambian families,” he said.

“Henceforth, it is a criminal offence to drive on the beach and anyone found driving at the beach will be taken before a competent court of law. The law will take its course if anyone is found guilt”y,” IGP Benedict Jammeh warned.

In a similar vein, Kaliba Senghore, director general of the Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) went even further in his condemnation.

“Driving on the beach greatly endangers the safety of Gambians and tourists enjoying our beach in peace and safety. Secondly, this irresponsible behaviour contributes to the degradation of the beautiful beach environment,”  the GTA boss fumed.

Mr Senghore stressed that GTA is in the business of securing the safety of tourists and others using the beaches.

“We are also greatly concerned with upgrading the Tourism Development Area. We will not tolerate such irresponsible behaviour and we will stamp it out in conjunction with the police, tourism stakeholders and concerned citizens,” he said.

GTA Kaliba Senghore noted that such reprehensible behaviour  contributes to erosion on the beaches. He then thanked the Daily Observer newspaper for highlighting the issue.