By: Binta Jaiteh
Yusef Taylor, returning Gambian in Diaspora has explained that the National Assembly Members have the power to ensure that Gambians in Diaspora participate in the whole of the next elections cycle.
He said the Migration and Sustainable Development Project the Gambia (MSDG) team has presented detailed reports on the challenges faced by Gambians in Diaspora involvement in elections, thorough studies on the Gambians in diaspora in different countries and cities around the world and why they are maintaining this position.
Mr. Yusuf Taylor made the statement at the National Assembly during the sitting of the Parliament’s Joint Committee on Regional Government Lands and Human Rights and Constitutional Matters, after the Diaspora Gambians led by Migration and Sustainable Development Project the Gambia (MSDG) presented its position paper on the presentation on the Elections Bill 2022 and why Diaspora should be involved in the electoral process.
He explained that he returned home in 2018 after spending 11 years in the diaspora – in the United Kingdom precisely, noting by the time he left he did not have the opportunity to register and vote due to his age and then never managed to be involved politically to vote in the Gambia’s election until h returned in 2018.
“To be able to vote when I was abroad I had to travel when the registration period was open that is the first hurdle for anybody living abroad. It is your only chance and when the elections come and want to participate you must have saved a lot of money so that you can travel back home to vote.
“I am sure you can all see the impracticality of that. In The Gambia, here, other citizens are voting when it is time for their National elections, and I’m sure nobody wants the Gambia to be left behind. In March 2021 before the Presidential elections, the Supreme Court had ruled about the diaspora making sure that they should be able to vote. But unfortunately, that didn’t happen but we have seen Gambians in Diaspora have decided to take the matter to court.”
He added that if NA ensures the diaspora voting, he wants to see the real practical aspect of the Gambians in the diaspora being able to vote while the Honorable representatives do the needful to ensure that they vote.
“We are now calling the Parliamentarians in this current legislature that in the next constitution Gambians across the globe should be able to vote. Is not about casting your ballot but participating in the electoral process being a Gambian and maintaining your connection with your country so that you can even rise to the rank of representing members in the diaspora,” he underscored the importance of diasporan participation in their country’s elections.
Honorable SuwaibouTouray, a member of the committee stated that they had a meeting with regards to the obstacle and the IEC complained that they cannot go with ballot boxes and ballot tokens across the world to conduct elections.
“Our recommendation which is still not being laid was for us to put marble ballot paper so that the IEC will conduct elections all over looking at what is convenient for them in each situation. The issue of electronic voting has risen and the IEC didn’t inform us about the issue yet, or anyone mentioned it because it is a new thing that has been raised and what we need is to invite the IEC and other legal experts to ensure that we understand the process of electronic voting,” he responded to the submission of the MSDG team submit.
He added that there are other constitutional issues, and other reasons which must be reconciled, noting that all the issues that have been raised regarding diaspora voting and demarcation are all problems that need to be addressed. “Diaspora voting is in the constitution and what is needed is how it can happen,” he added.
Moving on, Honorable Fatoumata Njie said as a committee and a representative of the people, it is one thing they must look at. “This assembly has never brought in a committee bill and I think it will be good for this committee human rights and constitutional matters committee to come up with those changes pending a new constitution because I don’t see anything that am not criticizing. I don’t envisage the constitution coming anytime soon but that shouldn’t stop us from amending important clauses in the constitution that are not entrenched.”
“We are elected by people and that does not make us the best that is the beauty of democracy. With your support and guidance, we can come up with a committee bill to amend those clauses because we have five years before elections that would give us time the sooner we start the better,” she added.