By Hon Mai Ahmad Fatty
Africa-Press – Gambia. I commend the Majority Leader of Parliament Hon. Billay G. Tunkara, for presenting a Motion for the Plenary to discuss the NPP Proposal of a Parliamentary sub-committee investigation into alleged improper disposal of public assets looted by ex-President Jammeh, worth over 300 million Dollars, and recovered by the Commission. This bold initiative with the concurrence of the caucus, clearly demonstrates the robust commitment of the Government in ensuring propriety in this sensitive issue of fundamental public concern and interest.
The fact that it’s a Parliamentary sub-committee, to be constituted by both the NPP and Opposition MPs in the N.A that will undertake this sacred task, and not a unilaterally established Government controlled entity, is formidably reassuring. The goal, among others, is to determine who did what, obtain what and what went wrong (if any) and to ensure transparent public accountability mechanism. We must always rely on legal processes and not sentiment, emotion, hearsay or supplant subjective personal opinions as established evidence.
I urge the National Assembly to pass the said Motion without equivocation and further to ensure that its hearings in respect of the extant matter, will be fully conducted in accordance with established due procedures, rule of law, national interests and absolute fairness to all parties, while strictly enforcing the presumption of innocence to all investigatees, as dictated by Articles 17 & 24 of our 1997 Constitution.
Additionally, I urge the National Assembly to conduct the said hearings in public, and to engage the services of forensic experts, where absolutely necessary. I would also encourage our passionate Activists and the entire Gambian media, including private online citizen journalism, to act responsibly, shunning sensationalism, hyperbolé and factual misrepresentation. The rights to personal dignity, including the right against intentional defamation and due observance of the presumption of innocence are entrenched by the Constitution.
For the general public, I urge all of us to allow the National Assembly perform its obligations fully and impartially in this matter, without the polity imposing prejudicial conclusions unsupported by conclusive evidence, and for all to take heed of the proviso contained in Article 25 (4) of the Constitution. The Government has the Constitutional authority to invoke the said proviso under relevant circumstances, at all times.
Lastly, I commend the leadership of President Barrow for encouraging the NPP caucus to take the lead on this important matter in Parliament, and for already securing total bi-partisan support for such significant initiative. Let us, the public, now allow our constitutionally sanctioned Representatives do our job on our behalf.
May Peace prevail in The Gambia and God Bless the Republic of The Gambia.
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