By Binta Jaiteh &
Awa K. Sanneh
The Minister of Environment Honorable Lamin Dibba and his officials has appeared before the Public enterprise committee alongside with the officials of NEA and submitted the Ministry 2017, 2018, and 2019 financial statement and activity reports
The Ministry’s reports were held back by lawmakers who said they missed some requirements while they encouraged the officials to put their house in order and get back to the National Assembly committee.
Appearing before the public enterprise committee Honorable Minister Lamin Dibba thanked the committee for their understanding. He stated that he could not appear in the past sittings due to circumstances beyond his control – this he brought to the attention of the committee.
“When this regime came to power, HE the president of The Gambia has empowered by the act constituted this act in 25th November. We had our first meeting that shows that for the past 23 years the council was there and the president considered it very essential,” he said.
“However as environmental issues are significant to the social economic development of the country so this council was constituted as empowered. The power given to him assigned the Vice President to chair this council. I therefore request for an adjournment until we have the reports submitted by the agency to table them for presentation and consideration,” he added.
Honorable Halifa Sallah, chairperson of the committee, said: “the constitution deemed it necessary to establish the provision for public enterprises. It also indicates how they should be a governing authority and the members of the board, governing authority of a public enterprise.”
He said the enterprise should be appointed by the president after confirmation with public service.
