Awa Sisay Sabally, Vice-Chairperson of the Constitutional Review Commission, (CRC) has hailed the level of participation of the rural fellows of the country for their sacrifice to participating in the constitutional building process currently underway.
She was speaking to The Voice newspaper in N’gain Sanjal, Sabach Sanjal District, of the North Bank Region where she also calls on Gambian to take ownership of the process. “It has been a big sacrifice on the site of the farmers because some of them have been saying that they are busy at the farms.
They have to abandon all their fields to come and definitely their turnout is, very great”, Vice Chairperson disclosed.
She observed that the massive sensitization roll out by the commission has been responsible for the mass turnout of the rural peoples towards such an important national discuss. The season lawyer told The Voice that no Gambian will be left behind; adding that even those that do not have the chance to be present at some meetings can still participate by liaising with the regional coordinators.
“We have our regional coordinators and anybody within the region who have any contribution can write it and sent it to our regional coordinators. They can also call or sent in their audios to the secretariat”, she revealed as part of their plans to capture the views of every Gambian.
The Vice Chairperson revealed that her commission has done everything possible to get its messages across, adding that by now every Gambia must be aware of its activities in the country.
“We have, been sending messages even before we started the tour and I believe by now every Gambian knew we are on the constitutional building process. It is important that every Gambian makes the sacrifice as it is something that will affect you, your children and grandchildren,” she noted.
The Vice Chairperson continues to state that the commission is out to solicit the views of The Gambian people, adding that this is to ensure that by the end of the day no single Gambian will complaint of not been given the chance to participate.
She pointed out that:”There is huge difference between the processes of building the,1997 constitution and this one. They (Gambian people) have told us that they have never been consulted and this time we (commission) are here to consult them,”
She calls on all Gambians to turnout in their large numbers to grace the constitutional building process so that by the end of the day the constitution can reflect the views of every Gambian.
Modou Jagne, the regional coordinator for North Bank region also expressed his delights towards the participation of the people of his region.
Jagne said, most of the people of his region are entirely farmers and having taken their time to grace the consultation shows their resolve to having a good constitution.
“I think this is one of its kinds in the region as the previous constitution was drafted without the consent of the rural people. They were only asked to vote for Yes or No without telling them what is at stake,” Jagne told The Voice.
The regional coordinator said the massive participation of the people of his region clearly spelled out that they are in for a good constitution that will reflect their wishes and the aspirations. He calls on the people of North Bank to come forth and express their views at anytime and in any form towards the national crusade.
Author: Kebba Ansu Manneh
