By Kebba Jeffang
The enforcement team implementing the ban on plastic bags in the Gambia yesterday, Thursday, 23 July 2015 extended its 
operations to the City of Banjul where 16 shops were served with summons letters for the sale and use of plastic bags in their shops.
National Environment Agency (NEA) officials who form part of the team took the opportunity to also warn shop owners against piling rubbish or garbage in their vicinity without making the best use of dust bins.
The team, which includes the police, immigration and customs officers, have been conducting searches in one shop after another. It was observed that in every shop where plastic bags are found the owner is given a summons letter.
According to the officials of the Agency, all those served with summonses will be prosecuted at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 28th July, 2015 and whoever is convicted will be dealt with according to law.
These 16 business owners in Banjul will be adding up to the 15 in the Kanifing Municipality who were already served with a similar summons on the previous day to appear in court.
A summon letter obtained from the prosecuting officer explaining the charge against the defendants states the that “Sale and use of plastic bags in the Gambia contrary to Section 4 Subsection (B&C) of the ban on plastic bags order (2015)”.
It went further to state the particulars of offence as thus: “For that you did on or about 21st July, 2015 at Serekunda and surrounding places in the Kanifing Municipality in the Republic of the Gambia, you unlawfully and willfully sale and use plastic bags, a banned product in the Republic of the Gambia, thereby causing an offence”.
“This therefore requires you to appear at the Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 29th July, 2015 at the hour of 9am in the forenoon of the same day to answer to the said complaint and to be further dealt with according to law,” it ends.]]>
