Our investigation comes as experts warn that the economic crisis unleashed by the collapse of travel firm Thomas Cook is helping turn the former British colony into a “paedophile paradise” where perverts can operate unchecked.
“Some of the parents know their children are being abused and they accept it because they are so desperate for food in their bellies.
“Our children are being approached directly on the beaches or the street and child abusers from all over Europe including the UK are coming here for this.
"We have laws that are supposed to stop this from happening but they are not being enforced so we have become a paradise for paedophiles."
“I’ve heard that crime has already shot up as there is not enough money coming in — the hand that feeds them is gone.
However the experts we showed our dossier of photos to said the police should have questioned them according to Gambian child protection laws.
“It is also forbidden for a child to be in a bar so late at night and we do not encourage physical affection with minors.
Malick Jallow added:“I would have questioned these men had I seen them myself. As a lawyer and an activist,I would want to know if they have the authority to be caring for that child.
“We have a lot of good Samaritans coming to The Gambia but we also have people who use charity as a front to hide their bad intentions.
“It made me feel sick and I wish I could have intervened, but this is not the UK and I was scared what might have happened if I tried to confront them.
“They are getting half as many British tourists and that means they might not make enough money to get through the quiet season, which starts in April.”
The social worker, 54, said: “I’ve seen a number of tiny African children walking around with big white men.
“But I didn’t want to accuse anyone in case I had misread the situation.”
'White men approach little boys and girls'
"I tell the children, ‘Get out of here, this is not a safe place for you.’
"Their parents are desperate for money and they know they won’t be allowed home until they have sold at least five bags.
Child abuse scourge
They also pledged to give out “hefty fines” and “stiff sentences” to paedophiles that are caught.
Norwegian teacher Svein Agesandakar, 57, was found guilty of abusing six children, the youngest aged three, in 2006.
Then, in 2018 President Adama Barrow decided to pardon him for reasons that have never been explained.
In October last year an official UN investigation found that Gambia’s tourist areas continue to be a dangerous place for children and that predators now stay in motels and private apartments so they can avoid prying eyes.
“Some cases have also reportedly been dismissed on the grounds that statements by child victims were allegedly inconsistent.”