By Binta Jaiteh
Honorable Dawda Jallow, Minister of Justice and Attorney General has formally apologized to the National Assembly members over the last week absent at the National Assembly.
“It is unfortunate that I have to stand before the Honourable members to apologize on something that has done been inadvertently my absence on the 8th of February from the (National) Assembly was clearly not intentional and I deeply regret the inconvenience that it may cause,” he apologised.
“I have sent a written apology letter as the speaker has said in addition, I’m standing before the (National) Assembly formally and sincerely apologize to the Assembly. I would also like (to tell the National) Assembly that my absence does not signifies any form of disrespect to this august body. Some lapses occur that made it not possible for me to appear before the (National) Assembly. I urge the member including the Speaker and office of the Clerk to tender my apology,” he added.
Meanwhile, Speaker Maryam Jack Denton said: “the sitting of Tuesday 8th of February 2022 could not proceed as the Attorney General who was on scheduled to appear before the Assembly to take responsibilities under his charges. As communicated to the office of the Speaker who just aware few minutes before the sitting to inform the members that the Attorney General was out of jurisdiction.”
Accordingly, the sittings were adjourned and as the assembly business committee was requested to convey a meeting regarding the issue. Consequently, the business committee meets on Tuesday and Friday.
“The Honourable Minister did a letter of apology through the solicitor general to the Assembly and the committee looked into the matter and arises at the following decisions. Upon reviewing the various section of the 1997 constitution and the standing orders of the assembly could be argued that the cause action of the minister might lie under section (75) or section (110) of the constitution.
“Furthermore, which means that it is possible for the assembly to pass a vote of censor against the minister under section (75) of the constitution or side him or her for contempt of the assembly. However, the attention of the ABC has been drawn to the fact that neither the constitution nor the standing order established for initiative contempt of the assembly although the assembly could be guided by best practices in parliamentary procedures. Therefore, the ABC decided that all pending matters businesses of the Attorney General dealing with bills emphasis on bills be written off from the current agenda of the Ordinary Session 2022,” she added.
“In addition to the written apology the attorney general is also required to formally apologize to the Assembly in chambers. It is a basic principle in parliamentary affairs that respecting the legislature is crucial in our work adding that it means a person must not trample with the dignity or authority of the assembly and its members with impunity. The assembly will not condone reparative failure the monster must respect the agenda of the assembly and be present to all engagement schedule with the assembly in line with section (77) (4) of the 1997 constitution she said Finally the ABC direct that legal and procedural division of the office of the Clerk continue research on contempt of the parliament and other available best practices together with our laws to prepare the assembly for any further incident,” she said.
