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Press release
On Friday 26th May at 7.30pm, Yate Fire Station, Station Road, Yate -Tamsir Jallow, His Excellency, The Acting High Commissioner of The Gambia will be making a presentation to Councillor Terry Walker, The Chair of The Avon Fire Authority, in order to mark and celebrate 15 years of this unique partnership.
He will also receive this year’s donation of fire vehicles, ambulances and education and health materials.
In the past 12 months, 3 containers and 5 vehicles have been sent, which in real terms means in excess of 60 tonnes of educational and health materials, together with fire and rescue equipment.
The High Commissioner will also acknowledge a number of people, groups and organisations who have made the donation of these goods possible by the funding of shipping, our only cost.
Alhagie Mboob will also receive a certificate to mark his 3 months of training here in the UK. This covered Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Great Western Ambulance Service, Frenchay Hospital Burns unit and The Accident and Emergency unit and Weston Hospital pathology.
His role on his return to The Gambia next week will be to manage the health clinics in the provinces, which GAFSIP had facilitated, and The Ambulance Service.
Alhagie is a highly qualified nurse with 22 years experience who has been seconded to The Fire Service in The Gambia to discharge these duties.
The donations this year have been facilitated by:-
Avon Fire and Rescue Service
British Red Cross
Long Ashton Primary School
Sanford Primary School
St Michaels Primary Winterbourne
Queen Elizabeth Hospital School
Weston College
SerCo and Airbus UK plus many private donations
Baboucarr Jatta - Minister for the Interior says:
“ The communities of The Gambia celebrate this most unique and precious partnership which has and continues to make a real and sustainable difference for so many aspects of life here in The Gambia, whether it is by an emergency call for assistance to providing quality education resources or medical equipment for the care of the communities. GAFSIP is the name who comes to mind. We hope and pray for this relationship to continue.
Their assistance comes not only with the Fire Service but health and education for our future, our children...”
Councillor Terry Walker says:
“The Gambia project is by far the most important project of my life in public service,
It makes such a real difference to so many people in so many ways. Their fire service and emergency service is the best in West Africa which provides a humanitarian service to their communities by their own people. This also gives self respect and dignity to the nation. We have been responsible for the creation of over 700 jobs which in itself is a great achievement.
I am so proud to be involved with so many people who give of their time and money in order to make this project possible and to make it work over such a long period, a tremendous example of total commitment.
All work is voluntary and trainers pay all their own travel.”
Visit our web site www.gafsip.org
Further information or detail from David or Claire Hutchings 01454 772529
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