By: Bakary Ceesay
The Gambia: Deputies at the National Assembly unanimously agreed to suspend their Monday morning slated debate on the President’s 2019 State of the Nation address, demanding for the presence of the President himself, his Vice President or a representative at the session.
Wulli West parliamentarian Sidia Jatta tabled the motion to suspend the debate and was seconded by nominated member Mjanko Samusa, before the entire deputies’ approval. They have now suspended the debate until Wednesday, awaiting the presence of the President or the Vice President
Section 77 (sub section 1) of the Gambian Constitution stated: “The President shall at least once in a year attend a sitting of the National Assembly and address a session on the condition of The Gambia, the polices of the government and the administration of the state.
Section 77 (sub section 2), further said the National Assembly may request the President to attend a setting of the National Assembly for discussion of a matter of national importance.
Section 77 (sub section 3), also stated that the Vice-President shall answer in the National Assembly for matters affecting the President, and the President shall be entitled to send a message to the National Assembly to be read on his or her behalf by the Vice-President”
After the break, James Gomez minister responsible national assembly matters appeared on behalf of the president or vice president for the session to continue, but Hon. Sanna Jawara, National Assembly of Upper Fulladu raised a point of order, drawing the attention of the Assembly to Section 77 sub section 3
Hon. Halifa Sallah, National Assembly of Serekunda noted that, it is only the vice president is authorized and have the mandatory to represent the President.
“We also know that all members of cabinet may also come to this National Assembly as requested to appear to deal with any matter dealing with their Department of State. That’s what the Constitution says,” he pointed out.
The veteran lawmaker said: “Hon. Speaker we need to put an end to this practice of having a minister absent or a vice president absent and the session has to be suspended. The Constitution is very clear on the absent of minister or vice president in section 270. They are acting appointees; anybody who appoints a person can also appoint any other authority to act on the behalf of that person. And we must begin that trend in this country”
Sallah further explained that they have abundant, the principles of good governance, stressing that what is important is that anytime any minister goes abroad the president should appoint an acting person from any of the other ministers and simply publishes in the gazette and that person can appear on behalf of the minister and on behalf of the vice president.
“This is what should start. If we are going to continue to proceed, we can’t on the basis that the ministers are simply representing their offices and their department, but not representing the president here”, he said.
At this juncture, Speaker of National Assembly Hon Mariam Jack-Denton requested for the members to vote for or against the motion of the assembly to continue in the absence of the vice president or president or continue without the president or vice since there was different views on the issue.
The Assembly then proceeded with voting, 28 voted for the Assembly to suspend session for the Vice President to appear while 11 voted for the session to continue. She adjourned the debate to Wednesday 25 September, 2019.
