By Binta Jaiteh
Public Petition Committee in partnership with West Minister Foundation for Democracy over the weekend engaged CSOs and Media about the existence of the committee and scope of its mandate.
The Standing Committee on Public Petition of the National Assembly is holding its first Public Forum to inform Civil Society Organisations and the Media at a forum held at Baobab Resort Hotel Bijilo.
The event was organised with support from Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) with aims of raising public awareness through the participating stakeholders.
Speaking on the essentials of the forum, Honorable Sunkary Badjie chairman of the committee recognized the various stakeholders as key in the promotion and protection of human rights, thus enhancing good governance.
He said the committee cannot fulfil its mandate without the CSOs and media who will further inform the public.
According to him, this standing Committee was established in 2020 for the purpose of receiving and addressing public concerns through an open and transparent process.
Malabi Hydara director of committees who represented the Clerk of the National Assembly said public petitions is one of the newest committees.
Explained that it was established by the Fifth Legislature as per section 109 ( 1 E) which gave the National Assembly powers such as Standing Order or other committees as it considers necessary for the exercise of its functions.
“The public petition committee receives and accept grievances from public in form of written petition Standing Order (125 1) A, B and C mandated (it) to consider petitions address to the Assembly” he said
He stated that, as the name indicate it is important for the public to know that such committee exist in the National Assembly adding that the committee plays a judicial function and considering the petitions submitted by the Staff of GT Board against its management. Saying it is their believed that the decision of the court is time consuming therefore grievances and complains on policy deficiencies can be dealt with by the committee.
Madi Jobarteh, Country Rep of West Minister Foundation for Democracy said the foundation gave a background of the foundation which has been in existence since 2018 and most of their works are focused on National Assembly by discussing with the clerk to help in building the structures and staff of the assembly. West Minister Foundation is an organization that promotes democracy in order to strengthen democratic governance.
“The Gambia office is the youngest and on the basis for the assembly to be effective if there are strong competent staffs and structures, they help to serve the members better,” he said.
“However, members of National Assembly Came from diverse backgrounds and they are elected based on term. Our life rest in their hands like law making politically, socially security and education. We are supporting the petition committee for the public to know their functions,” he added.