Gambian MP calls for impeachment of President Barrow
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - The Gambian parliament Thursday called for the impeachment of President Adama Barrow over his declaration of state of public emergency Tuesday without the approval of the lawmakers.
Kumba Jaiteh Thursday told fellow lawmakers in the House to summon the president to the National Assembly to explain his declaration of state of public emergency without seeking their approval.
Tuesday’s extension was the country’s fifth state of public emergency to be declared by the President Barrow.
“If the president come and cannot defend his position, this will call for an impeachment and I will put a notice in this parliament to start the impeachment procedure if the president cannot defend the appropriation of the Constitution,” Jaiteh said.
She added: “I think is necessary not the vice president to come because this power given directly to the president, so the president himself should come and discus this because this is matter of national interest.”
She said President Barrow had recently declared series of state of public without coming to the national assembly to seek the approval of the lawmakers, adding: “It cannot be the intention of the drafter under section 34 (6) to give the president an infinite power to put this country in to a state of emergency forever. If the president wants to rely on this section, that will be undemocratic.”
“Subsection 2 indicates a ‘’declaration made under this section shall lapse at the expiration of a period of seven days, or if the National Assembly is not then in session, twenty- one days, beginning on the day on which the Proclamation is published in the Gazette unless, before the expiration of that period, it has been approved by a resolution of the National Assembly supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members thereof,” she said.
However, section 177 sub section 3 states that the vice president shall answer in the national assembly for matters affecting the president.
The member for Serekunda, Halifa Sallah, urged colleagues to summon the country’s vice president over the extension of state of public emergency.
In a new twist, The Gambia Bar Association also raised concern over President Adama Barrow’s declaration of state of emergency as not consistent with the dictates of the Constitution.
“The Gambia Bar Association acknowledges and recognises the Government’s duty to protect its citizens and all those who reside in The Gambia against the spread of the pandemic outbreak known as COVID-19.
The fight against COVID-19 is a collective battle for all Gambians and requires cooperation and collaboration of all the stakeholders. However, in discharging this noble responsibility, we urge the Executive to do so in close collaboration with the National Assembly,” Salieu Taal, President of Gambia Bar Association said.
He added: “We trust in the spirit of the Constitution and our current democratic dispensation, the Executive will ensure that any further extension of the State of Public Emergency is tabled for discussion and approval of the National Assembly as envisaged under the Constitution.
He added: "We also urge the National Assembly in the discharge of its function as an oversight body of the executive to be cognizant of their responsibility as servants of the people and be influenced by the dictates of conscience and the national interest in line with section 112 of the Constitution.”
-0- PANA MSS/RA Jul2020
