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buba
57 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Mar 2008 : 00:29:58
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It is very sad to read about so many complaints experienced by tourists/visitors to The Gambia through our airport. Most of the time, these 'harassments' are perpetrated by the staff working at the airport. I know this because i have worked there for five years. Believe it or not, most of these 'harassments' are done by some of the Airport Security and the Police Officers themselves. Some of the Police remove their identification badge (particularly during night flights) before shamefully engaging into these acts.
Generally, the Civilian Staff have restrictions as to where they can go. Airport is divided into zones/areas: A, B, C, D, E, F.
A = Apron/Airside
B = Baggage
C = Custom Hall
D = Departure Lounge
E = Excess Baggage
F = Fuel Firms
[NB: these are publicly available information; so i'm not disclosing any secret here].
Circa 90% of the Airport staff are not supposed to be at D & F. Slightly below that figure are not allowed on C & E. B is exclusively for Airport Security where scannings are carried out before being loaded onto trolleys and dolleys outside by the loaders. Many financial complaints from travellers in general happen in that room (in adition to the Check-in-desk area). Only uniform workers have access to all areas; this is both logical and appropriate. The only downside is that some unscrupulous ones are 'soiling' our Country's image either unbeknowingly or selfishly.
It is about time the concerned authorities look into these numerous complaints caused by the actions of the few.
However, i will do massive injustice if i conclude this posting without highlighting the excellent work done by most of the staff and GCAA in particular. The Gambia is among the very few African Countries which have FAA Certification. This means there can be direct flights from Banjul to the United States. One criterion for such Certification is SECURITY. The airport has efficient security systems; and this was to some extent due to the efficient leadership of able Mam Sait Jallow (the then GCAA Director General) and Captain Kambi (then head of GCAA Security). These two men had done a lot for the airport; and most of the systems in place are inherited from their time in office.
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Edited by - buba on 24 Mar 2008 20:43:12 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2008 : 11:11:11
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please explain, how when you collect your bags and go through xray machine, when they search your bag, they see a charge for your own mobile phone adnwant 10% for tax, a portabable dvd players 10% tax, this is not a good welcome for 1st time visitors, If you know it goes on clean up the act. DO NOT TURN A BLINE EYE, zero corruption. if this gets too far out of a hand they tour operators will shut gambia down or do silent whispers, do go to gambia nothing but thieves, do not trust them.
STOP IT NOW |
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buba
57 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2008 : 20:39:03
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The issue of mobile phones being charged is a new phenomena. During my time at the airport, i have never heard about this.
However, if my memory serves me right, one of my custom officer friends told me the threshold for custom charges on certain items is ten/eleven (i stand to be corrected). Whether mobile phones are one such item, i don't know. I have not yet experienced the payment on mobiles yet, but i will not hesitate to politely demand a receipt. |
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brusubi
Netherlands
43 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2008 : 18:59:54
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well to tell you the truth this whole airport thing is being discussed on other Gambia pages too and it is one of the reasons for people never to return to Gambia again!
Gambians and tourists have to open their bags and the officers are always asking for presents or try to let you pay taxes on your own belongings. You have to pay at least ten euro for a mobile, if you carry more then one they always insist you to give them one. I and my Gambian exwife used to bring dvd players to Gambia as a present for the families we bought them new for 25 euro and everytime bring one we have to pay 40 euro to bring it in.
But this is only the little annoyance, the big annoyance is when you leave the airport, they always try to intimidate you and ask for money or otherwise they will give you trouble or take items from your bag. Many times sigarettes have gone missing from peoples suitcases and other items too.
But what really puts people off and let them decide never to come back again is the way you are robbed and intimidated just outside the airport.
as soon as you are with one foot outside screaming man and boys grab your suitcases with violence and cary them of to your vehicle,protesting or fighting doesn,t help, they don,t want to let loose , arrived at the vehicle they want money, not dalasis but euros they are encircling you yelling screaming and confusing you, if you don,t take out your wallet they just hold on to your suitcases. if you give them a coin they are screaming it is not enough we want notes, they are so rude they even try to take the money from your wallet, even inside the car you are not safe, at least 4 till 6 guys will put their arms through the window trying to get more money or trying to grab small items. this is going on for years and seems to get worse every time. this is what tourists really hate and so many people say it is together with the bumsters a reason not to return again. i don,t understand that the government doesn,t see this or doesn,t want to change it, i have been to many airports in the world but have never seen anything like that on other airports.this needs to be attended to before tourisme can grow |
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buba
57 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2008 : 21:16:51
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Brusubi,
I think the main reason why many tourists are not heading to The Gambia has a lot to do with the recent appreciation in value of the local currency (dalasi) against the major currencies - the pound sterling, the US dollar, the euro, etc than the issues highlighted in your posting. The implication of the rise in the value of the dalasi is that in real terms, disposable income falls...in short, Gambia becomes more expensive to go to compare to many regional competitors.
Yes, items sometimes go missing from peoples' bags - this is very annoying indeed, but to be honest with you, this problem is not Gambia's monopoly. If anything, our airport is to be given four stars out of five on this. You will agree with me if one day you travel to Dakar, Freetown, Lagos or worst of all, Conakry. Don't get me wrong, i'm not glorifying stealing in any shape or form, but just to let you know that Banjul is a far better place than the ones i have mentioned above when it comes to missing items.
You are right about those guys who almost 'forcefully' try to carry peoples' bags to waiting vehicles for money. My advice to you is to tell them that you will do it yourself because you have not got money to pay them...surely they will not force you to pay for carrying your bag(s) without your consent. One guy attempted on me on my last visit. He tried to take hold of my trolley as soon as i came out of the arrival hall. I told him to go away because i could do it myself, and that was exactly what he did; maybe because he knew i am a Gambian, he did not try to persuade me further. Tell them, they will not harm you! |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2008 : 21:48:22
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Things going through the Xray machine on entry to country is relatively new. It causes an already congested airport to be more congested.
No one would mine paying if the scale of charges was clearly on show and a receipt was issued. But this is not the case.
WHat is the Xray supposed to be looking for?
Last time I travelled alone to Gambia I had 3 mobile phones. All had been donated to me for charitable purposes. But before I even got out of the airport one had been taken as 'payment'.
I have stopped trying to take mobiles in, so ordinary Gambians in the villages are the losers.  
Last time I visited it was with a party of students and we were just waved through, no bags opened, no bags Xrayed. Mainly Coz a guy from Kolior works at the airport and we go to kolior with aid.  
I am getting VERY cynical. I still read bantaba, but post less and less and may NEVER visit Gambia again.
That feeling makes me very sad.....but self preseveration may come first. |
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buba
57 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2008 : 22:55:50
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gambiadev, i hope the Gambian nostalgia stays with you so that you may not stay away from visiting the country.
On a serious note, i don't know why an X-ray machine is installed at the arrival hall, but as you can see for yourself the machine is static in its position - meaning the decision to install it there must have emanated from either the Customs and/or airport authorites and not from individual custom or airport officers to cause frustration to visitors.
I know exactly what you are talking about. The norm is to have baggages x-rayed from airports of embarkation (i.e departure airports) and not at airports of disembarkation (i.e arrival airports). But this norm only looks at the security aspect. That is to say, if the departure airport checks the bags and allowed them on the plane, then what is there to be searched by the officials at the arrival airport? I think this is the general feeling amongst the travelling public. But i think (i'm just assuming) the real reason for doing it is to ensure that custom and excise duties are paid on all items that are not excluded. And if experience shows that most of these are kept in passenger bags, rather than shipped as cargo, then they could be justified by all means. I think what is irritating most of the complainants is the demanding of certain payments not backed by receipts. But to be honest, some of the blames will have to be borne by them as well for not requesting receipts. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 11:31:16
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| I have just read Kiwis beautiful piece and it has made me nostalgic for Gambia, so perhaps i will return one day. Just not soon. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 14:47:45
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Bev, Bev, please do not be dis heartened, I understand about the airport experience and have stopped taking phones into the country, it seems so ridiculous it is corrupton and should be stopped.
KIWIs posting is great. |
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MeMe
United Kingdom
541 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 17:57:01
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It's been a while but the Bev wind is blowing again ...
"I am getting VERY cynical. I still read bantaba, but post less and less and may NEVER visit Gambia again. That feeling makes me very sad.....but self preseveration may come first." But wait "I have just read Kiwis beautiful piece and it has made me nostalgic for Gambia, so perhaps i will return one day."
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It is better to die standing than to live on your knees - Ernesto Guevara de la Serna |
Edited by - MeMe on 31 Mar 2008 18:00:08 |
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tintinto
United Kingdom
105 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 22:10:17
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Inez, Have you a point to repeating something, that someone has already REPEATED?? IF your only 10 years old, sorry |
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inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 22:34:27
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| sorry tintinto, i will never do it again..there was a point though |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 01:07:57
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Come on guys you should know the chorus by now that you're suppose to beg and plead with Bev to return to Gambia otherwise how could the country couldn't possibly ... I repeat possibly live without her and all the good things she does ehhhh! Bev I just couldn't resist. Don't fume too much.
Kiwi yep! I visited it in 2004, Wassau is beautiful and it just takes your breathe way. It's the only place I've been and left speechless. When I was in Jangjangbureh in October 07, I and my husband went into slave house and was shown around by some Armitage boys. They were very polite, I've got a picture of the July 22 Highway which is a fast smooth road compared when I travel along North bank in 2004 and went to Farafenni and stayed in some horrible BB. I also visited the Senegalese Stone circles which aren't as impressive as wassau did you visit Wassau's museum ? I attended its opening in 2004.Wassau's beautiful and there are many other nice sites upcountry. I glad you enjoyed your visit and went off the beaten track by the way I also stayed at the camp on the island it was alright.
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 10:11:54
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| And the wonderful bustle & smell of Wassau market - the largest in West Africa? |
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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Momodou
Denmark
11755 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 11:05:23
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quote:
Originally posted by sab
And the wonderful bustle & smell of Wassau market - the largest in West Africa?
Sab, you must have been there on a monday . The "Lumo" market at Wassu is on mondays . |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kiwi
Sweden
662 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 11:40:24
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Sister Omega, always nice to hear that someone else already has been there! I arrived the camp in Janjangbureh just before seven in the evening and left in the morning, there was no time for me to walk around, which really is a pity as I know there is a lot to see.
I visited the museum in Wassu , it was very interesting.
If I ever go there again, IŽll reserve at least three days. What are the other interesting sites?
I tried to take some pictures myself but have no good one, neither could I come close enough to the round village dwelling houses. Send in your picture on the highway, please!
Sab, do you mean the everyday market alongside the street or some other?
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kiwi |
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