The nominated national assembly member has strongly defended the 54 million dalasis loan scheme, saying it is not her benefit alone because “I have a house to live in for the rest of my life.”
Last week Ya Kumba Jaiteh proposed 54 million dalasis loan scheme for members of parliament and secured support of 24 lawmakers. But the multi-million dalasis loan scheme was welcomed by criticism from scores of Gambians from all walks of life.
“I am the one who proposed this and I take full responsibility and I have very good basis for doing this. This loan scheme has been in existence in the civil services for time in memorial. I am proposing this loan not for my benefit because I have a house to live in for the rest of my life, but others don’t [have house],” she said.
According to her, this is the opportunity created to encourage people to stay in the civil service given the low rate of salaries they are being paid and its extended to the entire civil service.
She added: “So, it’s the National Assembly alone out of the entire public service that do not have access to this loan and that is not fair given the fact that we are political persons and we are making decisions on behalf of the entire country. And there is tendency for us to be corrupted given the low earning we have.”
“I did my research and all the ministers they all have access to this loan judiciary, all the ministries, only the national assembly members don’t have it. When we came in the banks offered us loan of 340,000 it is killing members because they paying 23% on it. When they have this loan, they can go and clear the rest to finish their buildings,” she continued.
“People are worried how we going to pay it but the idea is we are paid our gratuity as national assembly members at the end of every term you are paid your gratuity so if you pay and there is something left they take it out of your gratuity and our gratuity is calculated around the same amount – between 700 to 800 thousand.
“I did my research and all the ministers they all have access to this loan judiciary, all the ministries, only the national assembly members don’t have it. When we came in the banks offered us loan of 340,000 it is killing members because they paying 23% on it. When they have this loan, they can go and clear the rest to finish their buildings,” she said.