Africa-Press – Gambia. Members of the United Democratic Party (UDP) in the National Assembly have formally opposed the 2024 draft constitution during its second reading, urging their parliamentary colleagues to reject advancing the bill to the consideration stage.
UDP lawmakers argue that the draft constitution fails to reflect the aspirations of the Gambian people. Modou Lamin B Bah, UDP National Assembly Member for Banjul North, expressed strong opposition, emphasizing that his constituents have instructed him to reject the bill. He also highlighted a fundamental lack of trust from the ruling majority caucus.
“On behalf of my people, I am not supporting this document today, tomorrow, and forever. And that is my honest opinion, and this is the opinion of my people. We would be very selfish if we agreed to move this document to another stage,” Bah stated.
Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, Minority Leader and UDP member for Brikama North, echoed the sentiment, pointing to a perceived lack of good faith from the majority caucus.
“That draft is not people-centered; that draft emanated from the executive. If you are now compelling and telling us to accept it, so that we can do the needful amendments. But we suggested that in 2020, and you did not accept. You said we had the majority in 2020, and you had the minority, but now it is the reverse; you have the majority, and we have the minority. If you cannot accept and trust us to go to the consideration stage and do the amendments, because we have the number, now you also have the number. You are telling us we go there. How can we trust you when you don’t trust me (in 2020)?” Darboe said.
Assan Touray, UDP Member for Bakau, also rejected the bill, arguing that over 120 clauses had been changed from the 2020 draft without adequate national consultation.
“As the representative of the people, after going through the 2024 and 2020 draft constitutions, I have realized that one hundred and twenty-plus clauses have been changed, which is unexplainable to the nation, and there was no consultation on it. On that note, I want to make it very clear to the nation that I am 100% against this 2024 draft constitution,” he declared
Hon. Alfusainey Ceesay, representing Sami Constituency, criticized the process as rushed and ill-considered.
“We know that the constitution cannot favor everybody, but this 2024, I think they put the cart before the horse. I am totally against this 2024 draft constitution,” Ceesay stated.
Yahya Gasama, Member for Kiang East, declared that the draft fails to reflect the will of the people. “I want to inform this August Assembly that, should anything happen to me before a vote is taken, please account for my vote as one of those people who said no to this,” he stressed.
Sulayman Saho, representing the Central Badibu constituency, acknowledged the public’s desire for a new constitution but criticized the process.“We all want Gambia to have a new constitution, but the number one person who owes the Gambian people the responsibility is the president of the Republic. We cannot support this because the process was not democratic,” he asserted.
Other UDP lawmakers voiced similar concerns. Hon. Lamin J. Sanneh of Brikama South cited a “lack of trust” in the committee responsible for the constitution’s consideration and called for exploring alternative approaches. “There’s an issue of trust as far as the committee of consideration is concerned, so we definitely want to push this out and look for another alternative,” he said.
Hon. Musa Badjie, MP for Tallinding Kunjang, emphasized that the draft constitution does not serve the best interests of Gambians.”We want the Gambian people to understand that this Constitution is not in the best of their interest.”
Yahya Menteng Sanyang, Member for Latrikunda Sabiji, reiterated the opposition’s position. Stating, “We, the opposition, are ready to negotiate but we can only negotiate around the 2020 Draft,” He Said.
Lamin Ceesay, Member for Kiang West, offered a final, unequivocal rejection: “We have nothing to do for you today other than rejecting this Draft Constitution,” he asserted.
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