What a nightmare it must be for Gambian security companies, finding staff who they can rely on and having found them be able to keep them for the meagre wages they pay.

Before travelling to the UK, Filley was concerned about getting 'guaranteed' security. Our attempts to find security privately have been less than successful for one reason or another and just after I left Gambia for the UK, a battery charge and invertor were stolen in what we felt was an inside job. There were a number of prime suspects but no definite proof was established.

The security we had at the time went missing for a few weeks immediately after the loss was discovered, making him a suspect, another employee was found jumping over the back wall of the property (with no good explanation) the day before the theft was discovered making him a suspect, the young man I had used to help during the construction work, had access all over the property and had just left to visit his family in Senegal and of coursed we had a large team of builders at the property for many months - It could have been anyone of them or it could have been an outsider.

Anyway for good reason Filley wanted PROPER security and Uncle same came to mind. A deal was struck and after a temporary guard was assigned for the first few days a yound man called Abdul Jasset was assigned. Filley was delighted, he was punctual, and very diligent with his duties, helpful to do things that were not strictly the role of security. After a couple of months he found better paying employment and a new guard was assigned.

Lamin's problem was time keeping - The contract was security from 7pm to 7am, but Lamin was almost never on time - Filley complained and the evening the supervisor came to check it was around 10pm and lamin was still not on duty. He was replaced.

Foday started a few weeks before Filley travelled, he seemd fine, he arrived early, and did his job - Filley left Gambia in early July happy that the place was secure, Foday could cover the nights and her Uncle Ousman and her friend Iou could cover the days.

A call to Uncle Ousman in early August, turned into an investigation. The battery from the car had been stolen, Foday claimed it must have gone during the daytime - this was a typical Gambian sutuation - everyoine suspect no proof. After a number of expensive calls from UK to Gambia Pa Jallow the boss of Uncle Sams agreed to pay for the new battery.

On our return at the end of September, I was surprised that the same Foday was still acting as our night security BUT Uncle Ousman had arranged for a neighbour to spend each eveing at the compound with Foday, just to make extra sure (a Guard to guard the Guard)

The only thing missing on our arrival was Charlie our dog - Filley told Uncle Ousman, Uncle Ousman told his friends. By Saturday afternoon Ousman two strangers and Foday were at the gate with Charlie. This time caught in the act. Foday had tried to sell the dog to the two guys for 1000D - but they only had 500D and he was caught coming back for the remaining 500D.

If Foday still had the first 500D he was saying it was all gone and the men wanted us as the owners to pay the money back. We refused and suggested they take Foday to the Police Station ot contacfted his employer to get their money from his wages.

In a way one has to sympathise with Uncle Sam's - BUT their procedures for checking up on their guards is ineffective.

Security against theft is only an issue if you have valuable items to steal, a security guard is a deterrent, but is only effective if the guard is reliable and honest. Over the six months we used Uncle Sam we had 3 main guards - The first Abdul Jasset was excellent, the second lamin was unreliable, the third was a thief caught red handed trying to sell our dog.

So beware - no matter how many thousand Dalasi you spend on security at the end of the day its worth comes down to the individual guard working at your compound.

Uncle Sam offered no compensation.

We do hope that maybe Abdul Jasset will return one day as our security.

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