By: Mariama Njie
As uncertainty grips the nation following the rejection of the 45 days extension to the State of Public Emergency as tabled by the Minister of Justice at the National Assembly on Saturday, Honorable Halifa Sallah, NAM for Serekunda has said that a State of Public Emergency is meaningless if it is not back by regulations.
“It must be clear that it is the executive, under Section 34, that has power to declare State of Emergency, the National Assembly does not have powers,” he told journalists.
According to him, President Barrow is allowed by law to proceed and declare a State of Emergency without the approval of the National Assembly.
“The powers that the National Assembly has is to ensure seven days, when we are sitting, they must come to us for us to extend it otherwise it lapses because if we are not sitting for 21 days, we must convene to extend it, otherwise it lapses,” he said.
He disclosed that the most important part is a State of Emergency is meaningless if there are no regulations to accompany it, adding “that is where the authority of the National Assembly matters because the National Assembly should monitor those regulations.”
Also, he added, “the national assembly has the power to revoke those regulations and it must be affirmed by the National Assembly, so if we are not sitting, they would not be affirmed,” he said.