By Binta Jaiteh
Lawmakers briefly faced off yesterday at the parliament as an opposition MP interrupted President Adama Barrow during his State of Nation Address.
Honorable Sainey Touray, United Democratic Party’s national assembly for Jarra East, quickly raised his constituency tag during the president’s speech citing a violation of parliamentary proceedings.
“I am rising on clause (17h) that members are not allowed to clap in the chambers, but the speaker said the point of order is referring to the gallery and I wanted to propend and wanted him to exercise his discretion,” he told the house.
But Honorable Allagie Jawara, National Assembly member for Baddibu and member of the National People’s Party countered his colleague’s argument and told the speaker to reject his request. Speaker Maryam Jack Denton said: “I have noticed an honorable member raising his constituency tag, on a point of order on parliamentary procedure we have to listen to him. The members are not clapping and advise them to exercise decorum adding that, in accordance with section (71) of 1997 constitution, His Excellency Adama Barrow is here to attend the sitting of the Assembly and address the current station of the state on the policies of the government administrative.”
According to her, the Nation Address which is called State Of Nation Address is a significant event in parliamentary calendar as it is an occasion when the chief executive of the state will have direct interaction with the legislature on government policies and the administration as well as updating the nation of his legislative agenda.
“This year is the Fifth State of Nation Address of the president to the assembly since he started office in the presidency, I wish to welcome him in fulfillment of his constitutional mandate,” she added.