By Adama Makasuba
Seedy SK Njie, has described the Gambian Bar Association remarks on Barrow Youth for National Development (PBYND) as intended ill-advised, politically motivated and ‘holding breathes for a political party.’
On unday at the opening of the country legal year GAB President Richeal Mendy said: “It is for this reason that we are opposed to the action taken recently to resuscitate the establishment of a youth movement based on a personal agenda.
Such action can only result in the perpetuation of disunity among the youth who should now be encouraged to work in harmony in credible social activities. This is a time for reconciliation and healing in the nation.”
Speaking to The Voice in an exclusive interview Njie said the Bar President statement can best be described as holding breath for a political party because we have seen political parties having an issue with the establishment of the Barrow Youth for National Development (PBYND).
He cited Section 25 sub- Section 1 of the 1997 Constitution that it give right to each and every citizen of this country right to belong to associations, right to freedom of assembly, freedom of movement, right to belong to any political parties aside to manifest to those organisations.
“Fundamentally the Gambia Bar Association is expected by all Gambians to as a professional body and its members as luminary bodies are expected to serve litigants, who are expected to serve the nation, who are expected to conform to the fundamental laws of the land that is the constitution, “he said.
He described the credibility of Bar Association to be at stake saying the president of the Association made a political statement at an important occasion ‘hiding behind the cloud’, while called on the Association to issue a statement to dissociate themselves from what he called “anti-human rights statement.’
“The leadership of those political parties, their statement and that of the statement of the president of The Gambia Bar Association, Rachel Mendy are one and the same”, he observed.
