By Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly Member for Latrikunda sabiji Constituency Yaya Menteng Sanyang and Independent Member for Banjul South Touma Njie clashed over the underperformance of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The MPs lock heads during the House select committee on human rights and constitutional matters meeting with commissioners and officials at the National Assembly in Banjul on Thursday.
It all started when Yaya Menteng Sanyang of the UDP said “the only thing I found disturbing is that for the period of three years the commission was not able to hold any minister accountable looking at the powers vested in you according to human rights.”
He added: “Even for two months you should not allow institutions but you should start using your oversight function over ministries. The fact is that the commission was negotiating with them and that is the fact I want us to improve on this matter.”
This didn’t go down well with Banjul South MP, Touma Njie and quickly she interjected: “I think is being unfair because the human rights commission doesn’t have the same power as that of the High Court to hold any ministry accountable, their commission is to investigate and I think most of that has been done because looking at their functions and powers of the commission.”
Yaya Sanyang fired back: “the member came late that is why she did not get the whole conversation, but according to the commission they are doing an investigation but the commission was not able to meet with a particular ministry and you said they don’t have the powers to do so.”
“According to Page 9 of the NHRC Act it clearly stated that the commission has the rights and privilege vested in the high at a trial to hear any complaint summon witnesses to testify at hearings to examine witnesses to oath, affirmation or otherwise’’ he said
Sanyang told the members that the commission cannot hold them accountable instead they have to engage the lawmakers to hold those ministers accountable.
At this junction, the chairperson of the committee Hon Madi Ceesay immediately informed the members that this issue can be solved internally and please let us allow the guest to present their reports.
Meanwhile, Imam Baba Leigh commissioner at the National Human Rights Commission said the commission has done some investigation and met with the environment committee and they receive complaints from poor women gardeners and sand mining issues at Sanyang women farmers who have lost their garden.
“Fish has been dumped on the beach sides. We have addressed all those issues to the ministries responsible but the minister of fisheries, it was very difficult to get access to him as far as I am concerned till date we have not met. Some ministers are being called and they don’t appear, especially the foreign minister and the NAMs didn’t use their powers.
“Hon Yaya immediately responded that this is a different committee because my committee will not summon a minister two to three times and if he fails he will urge the director of legal affairs to improve on that part,” he said.
