By: Mariama Njie
The Standing Committee on Defence and Security on Tuesday presented its report on the production of Biometric National Identification Documents before the National Assembly members.
Addressing the assembly during the presentation of the report, Honorable Halifa Sallah, Chairperson of the committee said the committee is indebted to the office of the clerk for facilitating the engagement of the necessary support staff to conduct an investigation into the validity of the contracts purportedly solemnizes to produce ID cards on behalf of the government of The Gambia.
He said The Gambia government on 22nd September, 2018 announced the resumption of the production of the national identity documents by the SEMLEX Group.
“Two claims were associated with the resumption of the production of the National Identity Documents. The first alluded to the re-negotiation of a contract, the other alluded to the restoration of contract,” he stated.
“Following the announcement of this resumption, a Gambian Company Pristine Consulting went public alleging that the government irregularly awarded Semplex the contract to produce biometric National Identification Documents as it (Pristine) is the legitimate contractor for such services,” he said.
He went on that this has generated debate all over the country and beyond and Gambians across the spectrum became increasingly concern, demanding answers to the veracity of claims made by Pristine Consulting that award of the contract to Semplex did not follow proper award procedures.
Honorable Sallah explained that the Ministries of Justice, Interior and the Immigration Department convened press conference with view of clarifying the controversy surrounding the award of the contract to SEMPLEX.
“The public debate became even more intensified when SEMPLEX came under criticism for alleged involvement in corruption scandals that led to the raiding of the company’s offices in Brussels, resulting in the seizure of documents and the threat of prosecution hanging over the head of the officials,” he said.
In the consideration conclusion of the report Honorable Sallah said it is claimed that there were an existing contract between the government of The Gambia and Semplex dated 16th June, 2016 for a duration of five years and that the contract was allegedly terminated on 26th August, 2016. He added that there is no evidence of a provision in the contract for amendment but the re-negotiation contract constituted an amendment of the subsisting contract.
He continued that secondly, it is claimed that re-negotiation gave birth to 40/60 percent share in favour of Semplex as opposed to the original 30/70 percent share in its favour. The fact that Semplex could agree to re-negotiate the terms of the contract in favour of the government of The Gambia is another confirmation that interest of the government was not properly safeguarded during the initial negotiation.
He however said the denial of any accountability for a renewed Contract the Pristine Consulting by the Ministry of Interior confirmed the absence or disregard of standing protocols on how to ensure consistency, constancy, transparency and probity in handling such negotiations to safeguard national sovereignty and interest as dictated by Section 79 of the Constitution.
“The evidence of the arrest of officials and seizure of office materials of Semplex in Brussels imply security breaches which could be a threat to national security and security of the identities of our citizens,” he noted.
The committee therefore concluded that “our findings engender more questions than answers, hence the committee resolved to engage the subject Matter specialists on the way forward by giving them concrete assignments with requisite guards and fence to attain answers on the merit of undertaking robust parliamentary hearing into the Semplex contract.”
He expressed further that “Points of reference, government contracts are subject to myriad statues, regulations and policies which encourages competition to the maximum extent practicable ensure proper spending to tax payer money and advance socio-economic Goals,“
“Our legal opinion is that there is no new contract to produce biometric identity documents for The Gambia between the government of The Gambia and Pristine Consulting. What is produced is a copy of the contract for the production of electronic birth registration system and certificates signed on 4th May, 2015 witnessed by the former Minister of Interior,” he noted.
However the National Assembly members approved their request but the debate on the motion was adjourned till further notice.
