By Buba Gagigo
Only four of the 15 parliamentarians invited to the Civil Society Organizations-National Assembly Members draft constitution dialogue honour the invitation.
The dialogue organised by the National Youth Parliament (NYP) held on Friday in Kanifing meant to bring back the draft constitution at the parliament.
The four present were Omar Ceesay of Niamina East constituency, Saikouba Jarju of Busumbala constituency, Saikou Marong of Latrikunda constituency and Touma Njie of Banjul North constituency.
The speaker of the National Youth Parliament, Omar Cham, chaired the session. In his opening remarks, he informed the participants of the intent of the event.
“This is a meeting that has been brought into being in order to create a platform between civil society organizations and National Assembly Members to see the way forward in giving the Gambian people the form of constitution that they deserved,” he said.
The National Assembly Member for Niamina East said the only bottleneck holding the progress of the draft constitution is the retroactive clause.
“The fundamental thing that is failing this draft constitution is the retroactive clause. This, we have to say once and for all; and our discussion should centre on that. The engagement with political parties, with other stakeholders should basically focus on this. Those insisting we need to have this retroactive clause and those saying we need to have this retroactive clause, one party must compromise. If we have this compromised, take it from me we will have this passed [at the parliament],” the Niamina East said.
The Latrikunda Constituency representative believed that the political difference in the country had to be addressed in order to make a headway on the draft.
“The Gambia as it stands we are very divided in politics. Let nobody hide that. If we don’t address that, we will never find a solution to what we are discussing. We have the Barrow Camp and the opposition Camp. I think in order to have a way forward for this thing; this issue of political line should be solved” Latrikunda MP Saikou Marong added.
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