By Binta Jaiteh
Bakary Camara, the former lawmaker for Kiang Central has condemned the passing of the controversial Former President’s Bill asserting that the law would become a financial burden on Gambia’s sinking economy.
Reacting to the development that occurred last week and divided the National Assembly, the law repealed and replaced the Former President’s, Allowances and Other Benefits. During the debate, opposition MPs boycotted the bill.
‘’I joined the poor Gambians who stood firmly to against the bill on concrete ground due to the heavy burden the law would have on the tax payers,’’ he stated.
The former lawmaker and politician argued that, even though some countries in the world have packages for their former Presidents, but the one that the government intended and got it passed at the national assembly was exorbitant in a sense that it has given a lot of packages for former presidents.
‘’Government should compare the situation with our economic realities. It is also crucial to note the urgency of the bill that prompted the executive to attach this particular bill to the other bills as a certificate of urgency to call for an extra ordinary session,’’ he said.
‘’These questions remained unanswered, because looking at the revised standing order of the assembly 2018 that gives ample time to the assembly when it comes to scrutiny of bills, he said the same can be done to the former President’s bill before it could be passed.’’
Honorable Camara added that, the Anti-corruption, Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill and Health Insurance Bill and others bills were not considered with certificate of urgency so why the former President’s Bill he questioned.
‘’Most of the members looked at the bill along party line which is not healthy for our democracy and promotion of peace and tranquility. Not all the bill that comes to the parliament should be passed if the bill compromises the interest of the people automatically it should be thrown out,’’ he suggested.