By: Mariama Njie
The National Assembly has yesterday, 14th July 2020 for the second time rejected the Motion to consider and approve to further extend the period of the State of Public Emergency for 45 days, effective Wednesday, 15th July, 2020.
The first SoPE was declared by the President for 21 days and the second 45 days was approved and declared by the parliament while the third 21 days was declared by President Barrow after majority of the National Assembly Members voted against the 45days extension.
This Motion came after the withdrawal of the earlier Motion to further extend the period of the State of Public Emergency for 45 days effective Wednesday 1st July, 2020. This was supposed to be tabled by the Minister of Interior Honorable Yankuba Sonko, has again been tabled by the Attorney General and Minister Honorable Dawda Jallow
The motion is in accordance with Section 34(5)(a)(i) of the 1997 Constitution and it will further affirm the period of the Public Emergency Regulations made there to, in accordance with section 5 (2) of the Emergency Powers Act.
When this said motion was tabled by the Honourable Minister after minutes of confrontations among Deputies leading to a division, 20 NAMs voted for the Motion whilst 23 voted against it to be considered and approved.
Readers would recalled that Hon Halifa Sillah, NAM for Serekunda has on 9th July 2020 called on the National Assembly to Summon the Vice President Dr. Isatou Touray to come and answer why the Motion for an extension of the State of Public Emergency for 45days with effect from Wednesday, 1st July, 2020 as per the order paper of 30th June, 2020 was withdrawn.