By Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly on Monday adopted code of conduct to regulate and guide the behavior of the lawmakers.The purpose of the code of conduct is to provide clear guidance for members of the National Assembly on the standards of conduct required of them in their parliamentary duties under the Constitution and Standing Orders.
In his presentation, the Vice Chairperson of Privileges and Ethics Committee of National Assembly, Alagie S. Darboe, saidresearch had shown that the general perception of elected representatives had been adversely affected by allegation ofsome ethical misconduct andmisbehavior towards the integrity of the institution of parliament.
“Ethical failings and misconduct of parliamentarians especially in their own Assembly may have the negative impact of undermining legitimacy as a key institution responsible for holding government accountable,” he said.
“Any form of legislative misconduct undermines the public trust in the democratic system, threatening our legitimacy as an institution and representatives,” he added.
According to him, this is one of the fundamental reasons why the Privileges and Ethics Committee, with the help of the Offices of the Speaker and Clerk, approached the Secretariat of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) for a technical assistance in the development of a Code of Conduct for National Assembly.
He explained that the drafting of the first-ever official Code of Conduct of the National Assembly of The Gambia, once adopted, would see to regulate the conduct and behaviour of members of the National Assembly and to some extent outside the National Assembly.
He recalled that the draft Code of Conduct was earlier this month reviewed and validated on aclause-by-clause consideration by all legislators at a workshop.
“It is believed that the code of conduct shall serve as an institutional measure and check on Members of the
National Assembly,” Darboe stated.
During the debate on the document, member for Busumbala Constituency Muhammed Kantehcommended parliament’s ethics committee for bringing a code of conduct for lawmaker.
“I can’t believe that this parliament for the past 50 years didn’t have a code of conduct to regulate members” he stressed.
National Assembly member for Foni JarrolKebba Tumanding Sanneh also said thatimplementation of laws in The Gambia is always a problem and once that is not addressed, it will be difficult for the country to progress.
“National Assembly has values which include integrity, accountability, fairness and how can one exercise this without a code of conduct,” he questioned.
Member for Lower Badibou Kemo Gassamanoted that some of the parliamentarians were serving institutions before and those institutions have rules and if one breaks the rules,consequences will be faced.
“Code of conduct will regulate the behavior of members both in parliament and outside,” he added.
