space Press Releases, News Stories

The Independent, (Banjul)

The wrecked-looking vessel, which is currently anchored a considerable distance offshore from the Banjul Port was allegedly 'illegally and secretly' towed around the Port by unknown persons who, according to reports were bribed for that purpose.

Reports reaching The Independent say the MV Jonas, weighing about 1,600 tons was allegedly towed in the jurisdiction of The Gambia by another vessel the MV Dali on January 24, 2000.

MV Dali, according to the reports left the country three weeks ago but left behind the wrecked vessel after port officials were allegedly offered thousands of US dollars as bribe to leave the 'toxic waste' vessel intact on Gambian waters.

Highly placed GPA sources have since claimed that the MV Jonas is suspected to be carrying toxic waste or other waste materials intended to be dumped in Gambian waters.

The GPA sources however, added that since there are regulations to be observed before the entry of vessels into the country's territorial waters, it was incumbent on the GPA to monitor MV Jonas before it was 'abandoned' in The Gambia.

The sources indicated that GPA procedures make it mandatory for any vessel entering the country to announce its arrival and to be escorted to port by a GPA appointed pilot. After a vessel has anchored, a boarding team, consisting of customs, immigration officers and GPA health officers would be dispatched to it to know its contents before offloading. Charges to be imposed according to them depend on the tonnage of the vessel. The sources who appeared concerned, blamed state security institutions for their failure to prevent it, maintaining that it was improper for the MV Jonas to be 'abandoned' on Gambian waters without its crew who allegedly left 'without the notice' of GPA officials.

GPA insiders also blamed their managing director and the operations director for negligence and held them responsible for allowing the vessel inside Gambian territorial waters. The insiders alleged that since Cosmos Shipping are the agents for the vessel, both the harbour and traffic masters should have been informed. Insiders also inferred that the two senior officials should have been aware of the vessel's entry since they both receive daily returns of ships, detailing the purpose of their call to port. The officials who declined to be named called for the 'immediate' resignation of the two senior GPA officials, who they held 'wholly responsible' for any adverse situation, resulting from any toxic waste discharged from the vessel.

Captain Abdourahman Bah GPA's operations director who acknowledged that speculation abounds connecting the vessel with toxic waste, also told The Independent that the matter is the subject of a committee of inquiry and those suspected of involvement are 'trying to divert the people's attention.

'But the truth will surely be revealed soon' he asserted. Mr. Bah said that although he did not want to pre-empt the outcome of the committee of inquiry, he was wrongfully blamed for negligence.

Efforts to speak with Ebrima Jagana GPA's managing director proved futile as he was constantly said to be out of his office. According to an official of the GPA who dismissed reports that MV Jonas was 'toxic laden' Mr. Jagana is not a member of the committee set up to look into the matter.

Since the sudden and unprecedented arrival of the wrecked 'toxic-laden' vessel around the Port of Banjul, the public, especially the residents of Banjul have expressed 'grave' concern about its contents.

People who spoke to The Independent said that it was against international environmental conventions for a wrecked vessel laden with toxic matter to be abandoned in another country, especially when there is the potential for damage to life and the environment.

Hamat Kebbeh of Half Die in Banjul said that many people around the area were monitoring the vessel since it reached Gambian waters and he urged the authorities concerned to send it away. 'Let the authorities expel it immediately before it is too late. It could be poisonous', he added.

Binta Njie of Hagan Street accused senior GPA officials of negligence, recalling that a similar situation occurred last year, resulting in the burning of a marine patrol boat at sea.

Binta also claimed that MV Jonas' 'unnoticed' entry highlights 'some serious security lapses.' Recently a similar vessel suspected to be laden with destructive toxic waste was towed in Senegalese waters, provoking massive protests against its berth in that country. It was eventually sent away by Senegalese security agents.