GAROWE, Somalia Dec 20 2012 (Garowe Online) – An opening
ceremony for an anti-piracy advocacy campaign was held in the capital of
Puntland, Garowe, and was attended by special guests from all over the Puntland
regions, Garowe Online reports.
Many government officials attended the event held on
Wednesday including Puntland Vice President Abdisamad Ali Shire, Minister of
Ports, Marine Transportation and Counter-Piracy Saeed Mohamed Ragge, Minister
of Justice Abdi Khalif Ajayo, Minister of Youth Abdiweli Indoguran,
Director of the Counter-Piracy
Directorate Abdirizak Mohamed Dirir, members of parliament, governors
and other government officials.
Invitations were extended to many civil society members such
as traditional elders, women groups and youth from across the 8 regions in
Puntland.
The event was held at Puntland Development and Research
Center (PDRC) where the director Dr. Abdirahman Abdule Shuuke was a special
speaker at the opening of the awareness campaign which will last for 1 year.
Vice President Shire who opened the ceremony thanked UNODC,
PDRC and the
various agencies for their efforts in fighting
piracy in Puntland.
Director of the Counter Piracy directorate welcomed all the
guests who traveled to attend the opening ceremony in Garowe.
“I want to personally welcome the guests who traveled from
all the 8 regions to attend this important event discussing the accomplishments
and the way forward,” said Director Dirir.
Director Dirir also spoke of the recent achievements including the
opening of the new jails in Qardo and Garowe and the transferring of piracy
convicts being held outside of Puntland to these new jails.
Minister Ragge who also was a special speaker at the event
commended the governors for their role in fighting piracy in Puntland.
Governor of Mudug region Mohamed Yusuf Jama Tigey who
represented all regional governors at the event, spoke about the progress in
fighting pirates in the region and the recent operations by the Puntland
Maritime Police Forces (PMPF) in Mudug.
“The affects of piracy have been felt on the ground; the
brunt of the problem has affected families and societies in Puntland, there are
many who lost their lives to piracy some who have lost their freedom. We can’t
let this cancer spread and campaigns like these and previous ones will prevent
that from happening,” said Governor Tigey.
The awareness campaign is being funded by UNODC and will run for 1 year.
GAROWE ONLINE
