By Fatou Sillah
National Assembly members on Wednesday called for greater scrutiny of NAWEC and a coordinated response to The Gambia’s electricity crisis, as lawmakers debated persistent power outages that have fueled public frustration and recent protests.
The debate followed a matter of the day introduced by Abdoulie Njai, the National Assembly member for Banjul Central, who brought the country’s electricity situation before Parliament.
Sheriff Sarr, the member for Jeshwang, said the power crisis affected Gambians across the country and called for a collective effort to find solutions.
While acknowledging citizens’ right to express their frustration, he cautioned against street demonstrations, particularly those held at night, saying the manner in which some recent protests were conducted could have negative consequences.
Amadou Camara, the member for Nianija, said lawmakers were experiencing the same electricity problems as the wider public and urged his colleagues not to turn the crisis into a partisan issue.
Instead, Mr. Camara called for stronger parliamentary oversight of the National Water and Electricity Company, saying lawmakers should examine the underlying causes of the utility’s persistent difficulties and determine what measures are needed to address them.
Almameh Gibba, the member for Foni Kansala, questioned why NAWEC continued to struggle despite receiving billions of dalasis in government and development support since 2017.
Mr. Gibba urged President Adama Barrow to visit NAWEC facilities and speak directly with junior employees, arguing that workers outside senior management could provide a clearer picture of the problems confronting the company.
The member for Kombo East also described the electricity crisis as a national problem requiring the attention of all Gambians. He said citizens should not wait to be formally consulted before raising concerns about problems affecting the country.
“You don’t need to be consulted for a national problem,” he said. “National problems are our problems. We should shout it out, blow the whistle.”
He cautioned that viewing national challenges primarily through a political lens could make it more difficult to identify their causes and develop effective solutions.
The parliamentary debate comes amid heightened scrutiny of NAWEC and growing public frustration over electricity shortages, which have prompted demonstrations in parts of the country.
Comments are closed.