The deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Observer has left for the United States of America, to attend the 19th National Youth Crime Prevention Conference and International Forum, which kicked-off on March 26 in Miami, Florida.

Ebrima Manneh, widely known by his sobriquet, Ebrima Jaw Manneh, will join close to a thousand local and international delegates, including distinguished dignitaries of American society in this all-important conference which seeks to draw energies to end drugs abuse, violence and crime in the world.

The Gambia’s delegation to the week-long conference is being led by Mr Abdul Jobe, the president of Youth Crime Watch (YCW) of The Gambia, who represented the country to the 2007 conference, where The Gambia won the International Programme of the Year Award. Mr Jobe was himself awarded with the International Casey Award for his role and achievement in YCW’s objectives in Banjul.

The orgsanisation also awarded President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh for his government’s support towards YCW-Gambia Police Force (GPF) programmes, especially the Community Based Policing Project.

The organisation, which is headquartered in Miami, Florida, is a non-profit youth-led crime prevention movement in schools and communities with programmes throughout the US and abroad.

The conference seeks to provide international platform to empower and develop youth and adult leaders to proactively work together in creating resilient communities and countries resistant to crime, drugs and violence. The event consists of educational workshops, interactive training, a youth-led symposium, and professional development seminars.

"This is the key to taking responsibilities and showing that crime prevention does work," the two YCW executive members told the Daily Observer, shortly before their departure.

According to the duo, the event presents a unique opportunity for the participants to network and receive advance training on organisational development, as well as programme learning, including the most up-to-date and latest techniques.

In his own words, the Daily Observer deputy Editor-in-Chief, Ebrima Jaw Manneh observed that drugs, violence and crime have crept into the fabrics of various societies around the world, depriving the humanity the right to peaceful co-existence. Mr Manneh stressed that the pedigree of this scourge is increasing visible as many youngsters fall victims to these vices.

He then stressed that such "gatherings inspire young leaders to step-up the crusade in order to avert the alarming vulnerability of young people to the vicious cycle of crime and drugs and substance abuses".

"The Gambia is not an underdog in this struggle and this has been evidentially demonstrated in the YCW Gambia country programme and at other fronts. We will revisit our achievements and shortcomings; and inject vigour in areas where things are moving at tortoise’s speed. This is the synopsis of what we want to do. We shall do our utmost to make sure that The Gambia’s flag does stumble," Mr Manneh told the Daily Observer.

Ebrima Jaw Manneh then thanked all those who have been supporting YCW Gambia to carryout its programme of activities in the country.