By Binta Jaiteh
Members of the National Assembly select committee on local government, IEC and the ombudsman have started a four-day retreat on the elections bill at African Princess Hotel.
Speaker Mariam Jack-Denton, who doubles as the committee’s chairperson, said the retreat was organised to help review and consolidate responses received from the public hearing and other stakeholder engagements on the election bill 2020.
“As well to present final report of the joint committee to the plenary during the ordinary session scheduled for next week. We are all aware that the election bill was tabled on the (1st) ordinary session of the National Assembly by the Minister of Justice” she said.
“After the first and second reading it was referred to the joint committee for proper scrutiny and engaged all the relevant stakeholders after prepared a report for debate, consideration and finally adoption. The committee went on country wide tour to engage the citizen in the participation of the countries legislative processes,” she said.
She said the committee was commended for the first move for what she called “actual citizen participation in the passing of a bill.”
Hon. Amul Nyassi, co-chairperson of the committee said: “I want to implore you for the manifesto that we are fit for purpose, that is why international idea , office of the clerk did not hesitate to get us here and give us the ample time to do our work with effectiveness and efficiency.”
This is not a bill that should be rushed adding that we want to make a law that will stand the test of time, he said.
“The institution has been accompanying the government of The Gambia since the transition period,” Aji Adam Ceesay, an international idea focal person said, adding that they also work with the TRRC, CRC and the NHRC and the National Assembly of The Gambia.
“We supported them in the draft constitution and currently on the election bill which is very vital to the Gambians,” she said
