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Aku_pickin
Christmas Island
162 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Mar 2008 : 03:31:51
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There are a number of factors contributing to the decline in the number of tourist heading for the Gambia. The most profound being the systematic corruption at the airport which involves everyone employed there from the top to the bottom. From the time you land and going through customs you are subjected and or witnessed to corrupt activities. The first being the custom agents who try to charge you to fill out your landing customs declarations; which any capable individual can fill out themselves. This is followed by the agents placing your baggage through the scanning machines. They see this as an opportunity to milk you for funds with all sorts of ridiculous excuses.. from stating that you are only allowed to bring such and such amount of personal items for personal use and trying to seize them unless you pay extra duty. There is no price list posted and they make up amounts based on how desperate they feel you are.
I personnaly experienced this but held on and argued because I knew my rights. They reluctantly let me and my young family go. By this time my wife had already decided that this is no place we will be coming to visit again. However during our time in the Gambia she got to love the place and the majority of the citizens who weren't out to bilk us of our scarce funds that we had saved for this trip. We had intentions of spending money by purcahsing gifts for friends but we quickly realized that even the vendors were out to scam us as they would not list their prices and would make up outrageous amounts for a simple piece of local artwork which we knew was much cheaper than what was being asked. This was very distasteful. Because we saw the price being given to Gambians residing in the country. This resulted in us not spending our money because we knew we were being scammed.
When you depart from a country the last impression/experiences will normally be the deciding factor on whether or not you will revisit the country and am sorry to say, GAMBIA fails miserable in delivering this mainly due to the experince, once again, at the airport.
When we were departing they claimed that our luggages were overweight by 10 Kilos and demanded that we pay 8000 dalasis on the spot. I then asked what this was in dollars as a test and the lady said $200 dollars. Now any sound individual would know that $200 dollars is approxiamatly 4000 Dalasis so right there I knew it was a scam yet again. There was no pricelist stating what the charge is per kilo for overage. I then proceeded to claim that I only had 1500 Dalasis. The lady at the counter starting speaking Wolof saying Defa am halis meaning he has the money. When i presented the funds she looked at her supervisor and said Tey dunno Leka meaning today we will eat. She did not realize that I knew some wollof and understood what she was saying. They glady accepted the funds in cash without giving me a recieipt so i knew it was not going to the Government but right into their pockets. What a damn shame!
Then they allowed us to leave with our hand luggages but as my family and I were proceeding to customs, a security agent stopped me and asked me to follow him. I entered the security room next to the baggage check. They then proceeded to harrass me with questions about my baggages. I clearly saw that they were also looking for payment. I held my ground and argued with them explaining that I've already paid for my overage and besides this was the same amount of luggages that me and my family travelled with. They all looked perplexed and by this time my wife, who is a toubab, knocked on the door to inquire what was happening. At this point they knew we were all clearly upset and ready to raise hell to the highest level. So they let us go. We had our passports checked at customs and proceeded to place our hand luggages through the scanner. There was a young lady and another fellow manning that post. The man took my hand luggage looked at me and says, I think this is too heavy to be a hand luggage. I responded, no it's not I traveled to Gambia with it and matter of fact the individuals at the luggage chekin did not have any qualms about our hand luggages. He sat there looked at me and said I was being rude. I stated look all we want to do is go home and you people are making this very difficult. As far as I understand your job is to look for items that may pose a security risk not to judge the size of my hand luggage. At this point his colleague the young female, told me to shutup and not tell them how to do their jobs. As far as they are concerned they can decide if me and my young family can board the flight. To which I responded I know what you are looking for but if you want money I suggest you go speak to the individuals at the ticket counter who I'd just given over 1500 dalasis too without a receipt, perhaps they will be willing to share with you. At the point the supervisor of secutiy walked out of his office and scolded me saying that they are security and I have no right to argue with them. I responded I understand that, but your role is simply about security and nothing else. I then stood there blocking the line and refused to move. They eventually got fedup and let us through. While waiting to board our flight home, I could cleary see that my wife was very upset by the whole negative ordeal. I tried to make her look at the positive sides of the trip and she briefly smiled. She then said, you know it's very sad, if I wasn't with you this would be my last trip to the Gambia, simply based on our exeperiences at the airport. My reason for sharing my experience here is because I hope the authorities read this and make the necessary changes otherwise the tourism industry will be no more in the Gambia. Fee's and charges need to be cleary posted and individuals have to recognize their respective roles otherwise this leaves a huge opportunity for fraudulen activities harrasment at the airport.
Please clean up the airport for goodness sakes!
A concerned Gambia.
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Justice must be served as impunity brings more repression and corruption! |
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mavaric
Turkmenistan
94 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2008 : 13:21:36
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| Most tourist don't get to experienece what you've been through . You see, you are a Gambian or black am assuming, and there is a culture of hating on fellow Gambians when they arrive at the airport.Some sort of black on black racism so to speak. |
Edited by - mavaric on 21 Mar 2008 13:22:23 |
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Aku_pickin
Christmas Island
162 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2008 : 16:21:33
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| Point taken. However you do realize there are Gambian prices and toubab prices when purchasing items? What does that say? |
Justice must be served as impunity brings more repression and corruption! |
Edited by - Aku_pickin on 21 Mar 2008 16:22:15 |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2008 : 00:00:39
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Talking about the airport!
The airport also has officers taking the opportunity to get contacts and photographs by harassment.
I was ushered thru the last door into the lounge briskly without the final boarding pass being checked; my twenty two year old relative was kept behind, harassed for her personal details. I was made to pass thru by the female officer, so I just stepped into the lounge boundary allowing me to listen what was the problem. (She had no hand luggage) The male officer later brought all his details to her although she did’nt ask for them, everything except what size shoes he takes! He was probably fifteen years senior to her, in uniform and to be obeyed! He would not go away until she gave him some details, finally she gave him a Senior Gambian Officer as a contact & one UK charity address. Fifteen years she has been passing thru the airport.
The same security door last year saw exactly the same (with exception to that below) with a very elder male officer. We spoke then that he should have known better – as this has happened again this year, there must be people on this site who have experienced the same.
When it came to boarding time, as she passed thru the door to get onto the bus that takes you to the aircraft – who was standing outside with his mobile up to his ear – yes, click, click, he did get her photograph! How unprofessional & brazen is that?
Let's see what happens next time - if there is one, as after fifteen years he has made her very very apprehensive!
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
Edited by - sab on 23 Mar 2008 01:37:13 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2008 : 11:15:14
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so you see, it starts and ends at the airport what a rip off. AKU PICKIN, what a welcome, but I have had the same and so have others, NOW I SHOUT LOUDLY AND TAKE PICTURES and also let them know that i have good friends in bad places and that i will report them to the magistrates.
the airport is the worst place in gambia. |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2008 : 16:36:32
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| MIle II seems to be worse :) |
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inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2008 : 20:27:22
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quote:
Originally posted by sab
Talking about the airport!
The airport also has officers taking the opportunity to get contacts and photographs by harassment.
I´ve never really experienced very bad things at the airport...or didn´t take it too seriously. Once I was stopped at the door by officer who said I was not to pass if I didn´t give him my adress in europe...I started laughing and thought he was joking and said maybe next time..and he let me go. Other time one of the passport controllers stopped me untill I gave him my adress at home, he wanted me to introduce me to some of my single friends since I was occupied...I was allready kind of late so I gave him that. Soon after he sent me some pics of him and letter, which I brought back to the airport next time I arrived to gambia. Maybe it is getting worse at the airport..too. I heard that one guy was robbed in senegambia (not far from Wow) by 3 false police officers recently. It doesn´t sound very safe anymore and that´s so sad. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2008 : 10:31:54
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why did you give a real address |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2008 : 17:34:52
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Aku pickin, at German airports the size of hand luggage is also checked. I agree with you that certain officers at Banjul Airport are really corrupt and brazen, and that a cleanup is highly necessary. But maybe you and your wife were also overreacting.
I found that people accept even the most absurd 'security' regulations at European and, even worse, US airports (I am really surprised that there are still people who visit the USA!), but get totally upset about regulations in a 'third world' country. It looks as if in their eyes African/Asian/South American nations have no authority at all. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2008 : 18:04:39
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serenata, i think the problem with african airports is money and corruption, USA IT IS SECURITY and attitude, they can show you a list of rules and reulgations that are official.
In some african airports it is the color of your outfit and skin that determines what they ask you for. |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2008 : 20:46:57
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Not one reply has taken up the consequence of the photograph being taken & the uniformed officer having all the girls’ details from the International Disembarkation card!
He had to take only thirty steps to pick up her card with all the details as she gave only her name:
So now he has:
Surname
Maiden Name
Given Names
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Nationality
Profession
Permanent Address
Passport number
Plus the photograph – taken twice – He now has a complete identity package.
That would be a very good earner for false documents!!
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2008 : 10:16:01
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| and if he has written to her and she has replied their is a link |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2008 : 15:16:01
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| Sab, you are right. I just thought that this officer was an *****, but didn't think of what he could do with all the data he stole from the lady. Maybe I am still a bit naive. |
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inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2008 : 20:05:00
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because I am very honest person jambo
quote:
Originally posted by jambo
why did you give a real address
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inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2008 : 20:07:54
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| Serenata, I think we two are being naive. I also agree in your opinion about us airports, I wouldn´t even travel to us if I got a free ticket.... |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2008 : 10:55:19
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i AM HONEST AS WELL, BUT THE PERSON i AM GIVING MY ADDRESS TO IS NOT . i learnt that trick when I was in the USA,
i signed for bill with a credit card, and my friends said "make sure you get the carbon paper" it was a well known scam that they can reprint your signature from this and use this to clone your identity.
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