National Assembly Member for Banjul North Constituency Modou Lamin B. Bah has urged the National Assembly to do the needful and to investigate if the President’s use of the Prerogative of Mercy has followed due process.
“This is our responsibility and we cannot mortgage that responsibility to anybody. Due process must be followed and the President’s Office must be advised to follow its own policies which it continues to tout to citizens, donors and the international world,” the lawmaker said in a statement shared with this medium.
“We cannot wait until rape becomes the order of the day, our children are being violated on a regular basis, where corrupt persons get complete impunity to do whatever they want,” he argued.
The Banjul North NAM pointed out that it’s time for them to act, adding this is the Gambia they envisage for the women, children and people living in this country.
“This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue that speaks to the heart of what makes us human. We must all strive towards working to build a country every child woman and man can grow up safe and protected to achieve their best potential. This starts with jealously protecting our fundamental human rights. It’s time for Parliament to rise up and demand for better for our people’s safety,” MP Bah asserted.
Reflecting on the sworn in of President Barrow which he said replicate same day of pardoning the prisoner, NAM Sowe said the day symbolized a day in which the will of the Gambian people was being enforced despite the previous government’s decision to thwart the elections results of December 2016, adding aday of hope, a day that encapsulated hope despite the efforts of the previous regime to extend its term.
“This hope is now being completely decimated as many are gravely worried about a Gambia where pedophiles, rapists, murderers, and corrupt people are being given Presidential Pardon by the highest office in the land and the type of Gambia our children will be growing up in. As National Assembly it’s our duty to exercise oversight over all the activities of the Executive including the President’s Prerogative of Mercy which is mandated according to section 82 of the Gambian Constitution,” He emphasized.
According to him the government’s commitment to Security Sector Reforms, achieving the Never Again Mantra, protecting women and children and fighting corruption are just mire words after releasing rapists, murderers, paedophiles and corrupt individuals.
