Africa-Press – Gambia. Members of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and its alliance partners in the National Assembly have expressed strong support for the 2024 draft constitution during its second reading in parliament. The bill was introduced by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Speaking during the session, ruling party members voiced disappointment at the opposition’s refusal to trust the majority to advance the bill to the next stage of consideration.
Billy G. Tunkara, majority leader and Member of Parliament for Kantora, emphasized the majority’s political commitment to the draft constitution. He criticized the opposition for what he called “blame games,” accusing them of falsely claiming the majority rejected the draft.
“It is rather disheartening and disappointing, a member of parliament standing before this chamber, to attribute remarks that are unfounded, unrealistic, and untrue that the National Assembly’s powers have been reduced. This is a fairytale, you cannot make such remarks that National Assembly Powers have reduced. This is a rare opportunity given to us; let us grab it and make the best use of it,” he said.
Honorable Abdoulie Ceesay, NPP Member for Old Yundum Constituency, also voiced his support, urging colleagues to allow the draft to proceed for further refinement.
“If you vote against it, that is you. But remember, when I voted against the 2020 Draft, some of you here called and said that I could have allowed the 2020 Draft to pass through to the second reading so that it could be sanitized. As much as I failed to do that, now the opportunity is here for you to do the same thing. Will you accept it? Because that’s what you were telling me. The opportunity is here before you. I am not saying it is a perfect draft, but the opportunity is here for you to allow it to sail through and sanitize it,” he said.
Alhagie Mbowe, National Reconciliation Party (NRP) MP for Upper Saloum Constituency, echoed this sentiment, underscoring parliament’s authority to amend laws as needed.
“Members of parliament have powers to change whatever they want to change as far as laws are concerned, at any particular time. I will say this here, let’s give it a chance, let’s take a look at it and refer it to the constitutional committee for them to do more consultation and come back with a report,” He Said.
Nominated National Assembly Member Kebba Lang Fofana described the 2024 draft as a progressive document and appealed for constructive dialogue.
“The 2024 Draft is progressive; today is one of the days that I wouldn’t go confrontational but dialogue. I want to ask and specifically tell the minority camp that in 2020, you were in the majority. Being in the majority, you were not able to convince the minority to join you to pass the 2020 Draft Constitution, and it failed. But remember, history will frown on you if you fail today while In the minority not to join the majority and pass the 2024 Draft,” he said.
Other parliamentarians from the APRC, NRP, and nominated members also voiced their backing for the draft constitution. Despite the broad support from the ruling coalition and its allies, the bill was ultimately rejected and did not proceed to the next stage due to opposition votes.
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