At least sixty police prosecutors and investigators on Thursday received first hand training on anti-littering regulations to improve the enforcement of the law at a one day training held at the Corinthian Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.

Organised by the National Environment Agency (NEA) in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Chambers, the training was meant to improve the level of awareness on the anti-littering regulations signed into law by President Yahya Jammeh who is also the Chairman of the National Environment Management Council and to agree on its most effective enforcement mechanisms.

Welcoming participants at the start of the training, Momodou B Sarr, executive director of the National Environment Agency said the emphasised on the importance of the training noting that the NEA received a great deal of commendation from all quarters and even from Gambians living abroad after passing the law.

According to the NEA boss, the positive fall-out of these regulations for The Gambia in terms of health benefits for the general population and benefits for the tourism industry are clearly understood and appreciated by most people.

“Preliminary results have confirmed that malaria cases in some areas have dropped by up to 40 per cent as a results of the monthly Operation Clean The Nation exercise instituted by President Yahya Jammeh in 2004.

We now have a firm conviction that with continued dedication, in addition to receiving the required support from all well-wishers providing the requisite tools for sound waste management, The Gambia would be transformed into one of the cleanest and healthiest in Africa a few years from now” he said.

Mr Sarr then noted that, despite the very positive reaction from most quarters, the vigorous enforcement of the anti-littering regulations turned out to be a more formidable challenge than envisaged.

He added that the low level of awareness on the provisions of the law among their main collaborators has been found to be a major shortcoming and expressed hope that the training will help address the serious impediment.For his part, Justice Emmanuel Agime, president of The Gambia Court of Appeal commended NEA for their efforts in ensuring the effective enforcement of the anti-littering law.

He added that President Jammeh has demonstrated a compassionate leadership in Africa by initiating the monthly cleansing exercise, supporting the enactment and signing into law the anti-littering regulation.According to him, laws are only paper projections and can only be implemented and enforced by Gambians themselves.

He then recognised the important role of police prosecutors and investigators in the enforcement of the anti-littering law. “The only way people can respect the law is if it is properly investigated and those guilty prosecuted” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the secretary of state for Forestry and the Environment, Momodou O Njie, deputy permanent secretary, department of state for Forestry and the Enironment expressed hoped that through the line-up of the resource persons in the training, participants will get enough information to be able to perform the task of not only regulating littering of waste but would also be in a better position to influence the change of attitude of the population in meeting their responsibilities of maintaining a clean environment.

According to him, the government of The Gambia maintains a high political will and has given a lot of support for the management of wastes and maintenance of a clean environment. This he said, is manifested by the approval and adoption of the anti-littering regulations and the preparation of the Waste Management Bill which is at an advance level of development.

DPS Njie then reminded officers of their crucial role in the implementation of these policy document. “ You will meet all kinds of challenges and risk but however, with the training you will receive today, your close relationship and experience in dealing with the public, I am sure you would overcome the challenges” he said. Burama Dibba, Crime Management Coordinator, Gambia Police Force also urged officers to make best use of the training for proper enforcement of the law.

Participants also reviewed the anti-littering regulations under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), brainstorm on the police prosecutor of criminal cases in magistrate courts-experiences and challenges, waste management and its impact and finally proposed ways forward and recommendations