By Binta Jaiteh
The Majority leader Billay G. Tunkara presented the report of the Gambian Delegation to the second ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament held in Abuja Federal Republic of Nigeria from 22nd November to 15th December 2023.
During the session, individual country reports and various committee reports were presented and debated upon by Hon. Members. The 2024 Consolidated Budget of the Community Parliament was also considered and approved and the session also witnessed discussions on current pertinent issues within the sub-region.
Head of the Gambian Delegation Hon.Tunkara presented Gambia’s situational report on the thematic areas directed by the parliament.
On the political situation, the lawmaker delightfully informed the Parliament that, The Gambia’s political environment remained stable, vibrant and conducive for all political stakeholders.
He also points out that there exists a relative level of political tolerance in the operationalization of the Inter -Party Committee (IPC), the umbrella body coordinating all registered political parties.
“The security situation of the country is relatively calm and peaceful given that the security sector has registered major successes such as the Security Sector Reform, training of the security personnel geared towards guarantying the protection and promotion of human rights to ensure non-recurrence of the violation of fundamental human rights experienced in the last two decade.”
Hon. Tunkara further informed the ECOWAS Parliament that The Gambia, for the first time in its history, in September 2023 registered an unfortunate incident where Police officers on duty at the Sukuta Traffic Lights were shot at causing the death of two.
He revealed that the suspect was arrested, and investigations are ongoing.
According to him, the Community Parliament were informed that the US Department of State Trafficking in Persons in its 2022 Report placed The Gambia in the Tier 2 category.
The report further revealed that the courts of The Gambia in February 2023 convicted and sentenced one Jarome Jatta to 15 years imprisonment with a fine of D100.000 and in default to serve 40 months imprisonment for human trafficking.
The National Assembly then considered and adopted the report of the delegation.
