NEA, Customs Nationwide Sensitisation
By: Omar Bah
As the Gambia Government is committed to phase out the importation and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) by January 2010 as enshrined in the Montreal Protocol of 1987 of which The Gambia is a party to, the National Environment Agency, (NEA) in collaboration with the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has recently concluded a week long trek to all custom border posts throughout the country to discuss with them and other sister security agents at the borders mechanisms to control the entry of Chloro-Flouro-Carbons (CFCs) into the country.
This intensive sensitization and awareness creation campaign for security officers at borders is meant for them to know and understand Chloro-Flouro-Carbons (CFCs) which is the main source of ODS in the Gambia are found in refrigerators, air conditions, foams and aerosols. It also aims to increase their capacity on ODS and to facilitate the formulation and formalisation of the incentive scheme proposed for GRA and other security agents at our borders.
The combined country-wide tour of all customs preventive posts also aims to find out their mode of operation and the distribution of substance identification posters, caps and T-Shirts. This meeting is one of series of activities towards meeting the Gambia’s international obligations in phasing-out ODS.
In this national endeavour towards the phasing out process, over 120 refrigeration technicians have been trained country wide on refrigeration handling, recycling, recovery retrofitting, and environmentally sound techniques, while about 85 Gambia Revenue Authority other security officials have been trained and provided with substance identifiers for the monitoring and control of ODS at different ports of entry in the country.
The importance of the ozone layer is its role in reducing harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun from reaching the earth’s surface and it also provides a protective shield for plant and animal life from the ultraviolet radiation, which can be particularly harmful to all living organisms. This includes increase skin cancer, eye cataracts, blindness, suppression of the human immune system, damage of natural ecosystems and its adverse impact on climate change.
Speaking to Custom and other security personals working at the borders and stations in Amdalai, Kerewan, Farafenni, Kaur, Panchang, Njaga Bantang, Bansang, Basse, Sara-Ngai, Fatoto, Nyamanarr, Sabi, Brikama-Baa, Jareng, Soma, Kalagi, Giboro, Kartong and Tanji, the NEA`s ODS programme officer Alhagie Sarr said scientists in the early 1970s discovered that emission of some human-made chemicals from the earth depleted the ozone layer. He said the ozone layer plays an important role in reducing harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
He therefore noted that ozone depletion being a man made phenomenon, calls for a collective responsibility to learn and educate others to ensure a better environment for life sustainability on the only plane (earth) where life can exist.
In recognizing the vulnerability of ODS on human kind, Flora and Fauna the security officers met on the ground also made a firm stance on the implementation.