His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh said The Gambia Navy would be well placed to operate in a wider spectrum with greater visibility thus ensuring security at sea and in the littoral areas. The President was speaking at the Naval headquarters Friday during the handing over ceremony of four navy patrol vessels donated by the Taiwanese government.

Receiving the boats, President Jammeh extended deepest appreciation to His Excellency President Ma Ying-jeou, of the Republic of China on Taiwan for the assistance noting that Taiwan continues to render support to his government's development goals and objectives.

The provision of these four boats is an invaluable gesture that amply demonstrates the strength that exists between The Gambia and the Republic of China on Taiwan.

President Jammeh pointed out that this grand project of improving the maritime security and coastal defence capabilities of The Gambia Navy is unprecedented, but nonetheless highly necessary now more than ever before, as the African continent at large, and particularly those countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean continue to face and grapple with old and emerging challenges brought to their shores as a result of globalization, drug trafficking, poaching, dumping of toxic waste and their attendant implications on human security and the sovereignty of states.

Our country, President Jammeh went on, has made considerable progress in the economic and social spheres amidst great political and social instability within the sub-region. While government is pushing for sustained economic growth, improved living conditions and human security, the President revealed that some threat elements are at play far and near our maritime domain, posing serious constraints to our cherished goals and aspirations.

In recognition of the impact that these illegal activities can have on the socio-economic gains of this country, government is determined to confront these challenges head on and, therefore, the need to improve and strengthen the maritime security and coastal defence capabilities of The Gambia Navy cannot be over emphasized.

This measure does not only create better awareness of our maritime domain, but also critical to safeguarding our sovereignty in our territorial and exclusive economic zone.

The naval capabilities associated with the acquisition of these four boats will be further enhanced by the establishment of naval forward operation bases in Kartong and Tanji together with other existing assets.

President Jammeh pointed out that this visibility is of paramount importance. Professor Jammeh stated because of the great controversy that hangs over the maritime region stretching from the gulf of guinea to the north of the continent and beyond, particularly in relation to the trafficking in persons and drugs, and illegal migration and fishing.

The magnitude of these illegal activities is such that it transcends national boundaries, thereby requiring greater cooperation among states bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

In this regard, the President further said resources would be committed to ensuring that the Navy plays an effective role in combating seas based crime, while promoting bilateral maritime cooperation to ensure coordination of effects in curbing maritime illegal activities.

The acquisition of these four boats will undoubtedly result in the transformation of the Gambia Navy's operational configuration that should enable it to effectively carryout its role, and longer periods at sea in order to defer, defect and or prevent illegal activities.

Handing over the model of the boats, the Taiwanese Deputy Minister Foreign affairs H.E. Andrew Shia said Taiwan is committed to assist The Gambia's maritime constance surveillance of its territorial waters and expressed hope that the vessels would serve their purpose.

Deputy Minister Shia said the vessels will enable the Navy to effectively safeguard the marine resources for longer periods at sea in order to defect and prevent illegal activities of the marine environment.

The Chief of Defence Staff Major General Lang Tombong Tamba said their recent experiences as an Armed Force bestowed with the responsibility to protect the territorial integrity of the waters have shown that illegal migration using the waters has become a cause for concern for the government despite efforts to stop or mitigate the menace through the creation of job opportunities and projects by government.

This Major Tamba said requires a well equipped and efficient Armed Force which can handle the situation, it is necessary for the Armed Forces to have the knowhow to undertake this task, but as well as equipment. He said the Republic of China on Taiwan has been a very consistent partner in trying to meet these requirements.

These vessels will no doubt increase the capability of the Navy to mount a 24 hour surveillance of our territorial waters to ensure that illegal maritime activities and drug trafficking is controlled and/or defended.

Major Tamba said he can today boast of the Gambia Navy as one within the region that is successfully growing and developing proficiency and efficiently at a very fast rate due to the multi-skill programmes that its personnel were taught.

For any country experiencing the phenomenon of increased migration we are experiencing and pouching within our water zones, this donation could not have come at a better time than now.

The Chief of Naval Staff Sarjo Fofana said the acquisition of these four patrol boats for the Navy is another landmark in the naval history and for the young navy it is a formidable show off as a competent, reliable and a dependable maritime establishment hence a significant enhancement in our operational capacity and ability.

The nation's maritime capability Fofana said must not only be seen as a projection of military power at sea but more importantly in our ability to protect and secure and safe maritime environment for our developmental goals.

Read President Jammeh's full Statement