THE COUNTRY The Gambia has a land mass of 4,361 sq. miles and a population of about 1.3 million. Agriculture and tourism are the main stay of the economy. An independent state since 1965, the Republic of The Gambia is geographically embedded in the womb of Senegal. From independence until 1994, when a military coup ousted him from office, Sir Dawda Jawara, at the head of Protectorates People's Party (PPP) ruled the country. After the required majority of the electorate had so declared, the Gambia became a Republic in 1970, having failed to achieve this status in an earlier referendum in 1965. Following a coup attempt in 1981, it formed a confederation with Senegal in 1982, but this was dissolved in 1989. On July 22, 1994, the military led by Lt. (as he then was) Yahya Jammeh took over the reins of government. In a presidential election held in 1996, Col. Yahya Jammeh was returned to power Parliamentary elections held in January were also won by the President's Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation (APRC). The Gambia has three prisons : Jeshwang Prison, State Central Prison (Mile 2) and Janjangbureh (formerly Georgetown) Prison. I was able to visit all three of them. A Police Force with many Police Stations maintain Law and Order. I visited as many Police Stations as I could. PRELIMINARY MEETINGS Before embarking on visits to prisons and places of detention, I met officials whose responsibility for the area of my inquiry, or whose work has an important bearing on the same. An account of these meetings is summarised below. I have generally retained the style of basically stating what I am told and, unless the context indicates otherwise, reserving my comments to the end. i) Secretary of State for Interior, Honourable Ousman Badgie Present at the meeting with the above Minister on Monday 21 June, 1999 were Mrs.Therese Drammey, Permanent Secretary in this Ministry and her deputy, Sarajang Mic Jobarteh. Prison population has reduced over the years. With a view to preventing long remand, the High Court moved to the prisons. The President of the Republic also pardoned some prisoners. The Police, Immigration, Fire and Ambulance Service as well as Prisons Department are under the Ministry of Interior. As it was very topical in The Gambia, on my arrival, I could not help raising the case of Shyngle Nyassi with the Minister. I had read from newspapers that Nyassi could not be traced by his family after some men had come for him from his house. It was alleged that 6