The Gambia Fire and Rescue Services (GFRS), the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), and the National Environment Agency (NEA) recently paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Bijilo. The visit was centred on the successful completion of the Urban Search and Rescue Training for officers of the GFRS held in China.
The high-powered delegation was led by the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technical) at the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Lamin J. Gassama, who briefed the Embassy on the significance of the training and its expected impact on The Gambia’s disaster response capacity.
In his remarks, the Deputy Ambassador and Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy, H.E. Ambassador Liu Jin, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Interior for its role in ensuring the success of the training program. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to continue supporting The Gambia in strengthening the capacities of its security and emergency response institutions.
Delivering the keynote address, DPS Gassama commended the Government and people of China, through their Embassy in The Gambia, for the consistent support extended to The Gambia’s Armed and Security Services over the years. He assured the Embassy that the Ministry of Interior, through the GFRS, will conduct step-down trainings to ensure the transfer of knowledge and skills in professional areas related to search and rescue, as well as other critical aspects of firefighting.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mr. Amat Janha expressed profound gratitude to the Chinese authorities for facilitating the training. He noted that the program will significantly enhance the operational effectiveness of the GFRS and provide additional technical benefits to relevant stakeholders, including the NDMA and NEA.
The visit to the Chinese Embassy underscored the longstanding friendship and cooperation between The Gambia and the People’s Republic of China. It further reaffirmed the collective commitment of the Ministry of Interior and its institutions to strengthening disaster preparedness, improving technical expertise, and safeguarding lives and the environment.
The delegation expressed optimism that the skills acquired will be cascaded across the security and disaster management sector, ultimately benefiting the Gambian people. Both parties pledged to continue fostering collaboration for the mutual benefit of the two nations.
