Public Safety Code
Improving building codes, public
health & sanitation standards
OUR MISSION
Establish a Public Safety and Code Enforcement Administration
The National Builders Party (NBP) believes that a modern, healthy, and orderly society requires more than good intentions. For the Gambia to catch up with the international standards, it demands strict adherence to laws, regulations and set codes of conduct. To achieve this, the NBP will create a Public Safety and Code Enforcement Administration (PSCEA). This department will be dedicated with the task of enforcing building codes, public health regulations, sanitation standards, transportation and passenger safety and urban beautification requirements.
OUR PLAN
The creation and empowerment of a specialized enforcement body will significantly improve public welfare, safety, urban order, and economic credibility by ensuring that rules are predictable, transparent and consistently applied.
The Mandate and Core Responsibilities of the Public Safety and Code Enforcement Administration (PSCEA) will serve as the central authority for enforcing all government-mandated codes and standards across sectors including but not limited to:
- Building and construction safety
- Urban development and beautification
- Sanitation and environmental health
- Food and beverage safety
- Public transportation and maritime safety
- Public health and emergency preparedness
This agency will operate with clear legal authority and administrative independence under the Ministry of Interior and in coordination with relevant ministries and regulatory authorities.
To achieve its mission, the agency will be structured into key divisions:
- Construction and Building Code Division: This division will enforce building licensing, structural safety, planning permissions and compliance with certified construction standards.
- Environmental Health and Sanitation Division: This unit will monitor waste disposal, public cleanliness standards, mosquito control and regulation of public spaces.
- Food Safety and Consumer Protection Division: Inspects restaurants, food markets, beverage vendors and packaged goods to enforce hygiene and safety protocols.
- Transport Safety Division: Regulates vehicle compliance, public bus fleets, ferries, airports, taxi services and passenger transport safety.
- Maritime and Riverine Safety Division: Oversees ferry operator standards, watercraft inspections and river terminal safety protocols to align with planned modernization of river transport.
- Urban Development and Beautification Division: Implements standards on street cleanliness, building façades, public landscaping, signage and waste collection in urban and peri-urban zones.
Each division will contain regional branches in all administrative regions to ensure both national oversight and local presence.
Legal Framework and Enforcement Powers of the Public Safety and Code Enforcement Administration
A new Public Safety and Code Enforcement Act will be enacted by the National Assembly to authorize inspectors to inspect, review, and enforce regulations with authority to issue warnings, fines, work-stoppage orders and legal sanctions.
The Act will also empower courts to hear cases on repeated non-compliance, building code violations, unsanitary food handling, public safety infractions and transport regulation breaches.
The New law shall introduce a tiered penalty system to promote voluntary compliance for first time offenses and impose stricter fines or suspensions for repeated violations or public harm.
Inter-Agency Coordination
The PSCEA will maintain robust collaboration with established agencies such as;
- Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure on building approvals and contractor licensing.
- Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) on standards for energy, water, and waste services.
- National Food Safety and Quality Authority on new food safety policies.
- Ministry of Health on environmental sanitation, disease prevention, and public health emergencies.
- National Transport Authority, Gambia Maritime Administration on transport-related standardization.
Community Engagement & Compliance Education
- To cultivate a culture of compliance, the PSCEA will conduct educational campaigns highlighting the importance and benefits of code enforcement.
- The Agency will publish annual reports and transparency dashboards to demonstrate enforcement activities and outcomes.
- To encourage compliance, the PSCEA will provide incentives and fast-track permits for communities and businesses achieving high compliance standards.
- The administration will partner with civic associations and homeowners’ groups to promote voluntary code adherence and community-level monitoring.
IMPORTANCE
Economic and Social Benefits of PSCEA
It is important to note that Public Safety Enhancement ensures the structural integrity of buildings, reduces building collapse risk, and improves sanitary conditions.
On matters related to Health Improvements, these efforts will reduce foodborne illness, waterborne disease and unsanitary living conditions currently prevalent in the Gambia.
The Code Enforcement Administration will also protect and prevent urban decay, enhance aesthetic quality and uplift property values through systematic beautification.
Moreover, road safety inspections will drastically lower the incidence of accidents and regulate operators of public transportation.
By establishing the Public Safety and Code Enforcement Administration, the NBP will ensure that laws and regulations become enforceable instruments for progress and not paper prescriptions. This commitment to governance, order, and adherence to standards is central to the party’s belief that a nation built on integrity is a nation that grows with confidence, security and dignity.