Lamin Jassey, an environmentalist and Chairman of The Gunjur Conservationists & Ecotourism Association, has been summoned to the Gunjur Police Station for questioning this Friday at 10 AM.

On a January 7th Facebook post, Lamin Jassey called for immediate action to address the threat to small pelagic fish stocks in the waters of the sub-region. His post urges concerned citizens, environmental activists, conservationists, journalists, and media houses to gather at Gunjur Fish Landing Site on January 13th, 2024, at 10:00 am.

The gathering, according to him, aims to question those responsible for managing and controlling the landing site, including fisheries staff, the Center Management Committee, Golden Lead Fish Meal Factory, and Nascum and Lakums.

The post expresses concern about fish meal factories encouraging a market for juvenile fish in the Gambia and calls for an end to practices that compromise the future of the fish stock and the livelihoods dependent on it.

Lamin would not have the opportunity to attend the meeting at which he called the journalits and the activists because of the way the police have invited him to be questioned.

A tale of Déjà vu

Gunjur Environmentalists have expressed frustration at being repeatedly called in for questioning by different police stations, alleging that it is a tactic used against Lamin Jassey for speaking out against environmental issues affecting the wealthy class.

“Lamin’s only crime is that he has been speaking up against juvenile fishing and pollution of the coastline. This action is in line with Section 71 of the Fisheries Regulations 2008, which prohibits the unauthorized sale, take, have in possession, sell or export of any fish of an average weight of less than 1kg” says Omar AJ Saho, one of them, on his Facebook timeline.

He questions the need for his summons when there are fisheries officials and management committees responsible for regulating fish landing sites and marine resources. He implies that these actions protect the interests of the wealthy and connected individuals rather than the average poor Gambians.

We will monitor this developing story