A new biometric visa system, the latest acquired technology and facility intended to enhance the quality of service and security at the Banjul International Airport, was yesterday launched by President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh.

The machine has the technology to authenticate the identities of travelling visa holders, thereby discouraging identity theft.

At the ceremony held in the terminal building of the Banjul International Airport, President Jammeh thanked Gibril Jobateh, a technician and his team, who installed the state-of-the-art security equipment, for a job well done.

“I always want the best for this country. No system is either good or bad. It depends on how you handle it. This is a security system but if people who are supposed to operate it decide to destroy it, it will not be useful to this country,” President Jammeh said, expressing hope that the system serves as a monitor to avert any possible fowl play.  

“The Gambia is developing at a very fast trend, because of the peace and security. For the security of The Gambia, there will be no compromise,” the president stressed and then gave a warning to those who would be operating the system.

“Let me make it very clear, if you tamper with the system, you will pay a very high price. If you want to jeopardise the security of this country just because you want something [in addition] to your salary, you will pay a very high price for that,” the president  warned.

He urged the operators of the system to work honestly for the development of the country, noting that every Gambian should be proud of the biometric visa system, because in Africa, there are diamond and oil producing countries who do not have the technology.  

“The Gambia has it and by the time they have this system, we would have moved to something higher, because I want to make sure that The Gambia is three steps ahead of the rest of Africa”, Dr Jammeh noted, saying “The Gambia small [though] it may be, will be a beacon of hope for the rest of mankind”. The Gambia with time, he continued, will be the standard bearer in technology in Africa.

Ousman Sonko, the secretary of state for Interior, hailed the president’s  initiative to install a biometric visa system as a noble project geared towards bringing  cutting-edge technology in the area of internal security.

“This biometric system is a precursor of what is to come next in our continuous march towards meeting the aims and aspirations of Vision 2020, the Millennium Development Goals and the Silicon Valley,” SoS Sonko noted.

The Interior SoS informed the gathering that his department, in collaboration with other stakeholders, is in the process of introducing in the very near future, biometric national documents, including passports, identification cards and other related documentation.
 
“I have been reliably informed that under this Biometric Project, the Immigration Section of the airport has been fitted with 13 modern and customised computer terminals and related accessories. With this system, officers of the Immigration Department at the airport, could easily isolate and identify citizens from other nationals entering and leaving the country,” he said.

According to him, the project also provides for the issuance of Gambian visas to visitors wishing to enter The Gambia. “These visas can be issued in some Gambian embassies abroad with a direct link in Banjul.

 The system can filter any information or person coming to The Gambia, and can ensure proper records of all people arriving in and departing from the country. The possibility of identity fraud is rather unlikely and it can capture and store the identities of people for a lifetime,” SoS Sonko added.

He then added: “Given our newly found wealth in terms of natural resources coupled with the increasing trend in transnational crimes such as human trafficking, the illicit drug trade, terrorism and related crimes, it is of paramount importance that we in The Gambia secure our borders and ensure that our beloved country is sealed and quarantined from these vices in the interest of peace, security, social development and prosperity”.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Fansu Bojang, the director general of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, thanked the government for investing in such a worthwhile project, which is a demonstration of its commitment to ensure the smooth flow of passengers in a secure environment.

Mr Bojang said following the events of  9/11 in the US, efforts at tightening security at international airports intensified around the world. “Industry leaders and technology experts continued efforts in fine-tuning procedures and perfecting the technology that go to give users of airports and citizens the ultimate assurance of security.  

One area conspicuously identified for strengthening within the airport security system was immigration and passport control. The system as you are aware has a fingerprint module that allows biometric reconciliation of individuals to their travel documents,” he explained.

The Gambia according to him, is no doubt the first country on the continent to fully introduce biometric tracing in its passport control system.

Buba Sanyang, the acting director general of the Immigration department, said the system is a smart and accurate method of controlling and monitoring the issuance of visa to migrants entering another state with visa fees paid. “This visa can be issued at all Gambian Embassies abroad and is linked to Banjul, The Gambia from anywhere in the world. The present Visa Data Base System is directly linked to New York and Washington,” he added.

This biometric system in Banjul is the latest Immigration controlling system of recording movement of persons, capturing their correct identity and data information without imposters, wanted criminals or persons escaping from the country since the system is linked internationally.