By YusuphaJobe
The leader of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) has expressed his concern as the National Assembly Members still not agree to extend the State of Public Emergency which expired Monday, 18th May, 2020.
The National Assembly members couldn’t reach any decision to extend the elapsed 45 days of the State of Public Emergency aimed to curb the spread of the virus in the country.
The Gambia cases already increased to 24 with 9 recoveries and one death.
Last Saturday, 25 out of 57 lawmakers voted against a government’s motion which seeks an extension of coronavirus restrictions to another 45 days, while the National Assembly Select Committee on coronavirus is seeking for 21 days extension.
Mai Ahmed Fatty who wrote on Facebook Page: “I am very concerned that the State of Public Emergency expired without some form of an extension. The past 45 days revealed several inconsistencies and inefficiencies. Yet, it should serve as lesson to build upon, not the contrary. I support a limited extension with strict conditions to be imposed, supervised and monitored by parliament and civil society.
According to him in his post, the President has the executive authority to close our borders regardless of Covid-19 or not despite parliament’s rejection to extend State of Public Emergency.
“I therefore recommend to President Barrow to invoke this power under existing emergencies, pending parliamentary extension. It is imperative that the office of the President officially declares the subsistence of border closure without delay, and in default; it would be against international law to stop intercontinental traffic through our borders,” he said in the post.
“The President should review all reasonable dismal failures on vital conditions required for a better policy implementation towards having a necessary fight against coronavirus pandemic.”