By Binta Jaiteh
The Lawmaker for Janjanbureh Constituency, Hon. Omar JatooJammeh has expressed dismay and accused the Office of the Speaker for hijacking the National Assembly staff vehicle for family errands.
The lawmaker’s expression came up during an adjournment debate as assembly sine-die.
He told the Hon Speaker that before addressing matters outside it is crucial to address their institution which is the National Assembly.
“I have been seeing favoritism in the National Assembly all along” he asserted
According to him, two weeks ago the staff of the National Assembly was denied transport simply because the Hon Speaker was using that vehicle for family errands which should be addressed immediately. “Our staff deserve good so if they are denied their bus it means they will use their own money to pay for transport,” he lamented.
He alleged that the same Office of the Speaker hijacked the vehicle of the former Speaker making it a utility car and also for family errands upon that the number plate of the vehicle was removed. “We demand for the return of the vehicle stating that the privileges accorded to the Office of the Speaker is enough,” he added quizzically.
“We went to the extent of giving you a robe allowance in our budget, is that not enough”, he asked rhetorically.
Without much ado, the Hon Speaker responded that “the member was referring to him that is why he didn’t stop but if it is a member I would have addressed the matter. You are making a purely unfounded allegation. If for instance a facility was offered to me the same was given to you when you needed it,” Speaker Fabakary Tombong Jatta frowned.
He continued in his response that as “the head of the institution for the robe I wear, I have an allowance for it. This didn’t start with me and that has been going on for a long (time).”
The Hon Speaker therefore warned the member, Hon Omar Jammeh to watch his utterances.
However, he said, “If you want to be respected, respect others, please.”
“I still stand on my grounds with all due respect because I am not making any allegation”, Hon. Jammeh stood his grand over the utterances.
National Assembly Member for Sabach Sanjal, Hon. AlhajieBabou Ceesay interjected and said when he read certain publications in the media, he felt very touched because those who called themselves patriotic citizens of this country are the ones misleading the country. “I don’t want to stand before this assembly and be called an imposter or be outside the media pretending,” he divulged.
According to him, whatever is said should be based on facts,” it is good to criticize but it shall be based on merits as this country needs a change of behavior to move as a nation,” he added.
He continued, “I will not be here to speak about anything attached to that office because one day or the other I may be the Speaker sitting over there, never will I allow anyone to caricature me all in the name of tarnishing the image of that office. Let us respect the dignity of parliament”, he submitted.