Native of Niumi raise emotive concern on citizenship

By Landing Colley

Native of Niumi raised emotive debate on new provision of citizenship as constitutional review commission embarked on 15-day public consultation.

In Fass Njaga Choi village on Monday, Badou Nyang a concern citizen said a born Gambian should be given a citizenship automatically adding that a child found in the Gambia for 8 years without knowing the parents is given a citizenship.

“A child born in the Gambia should be given citizenship the should not be taken to the national Assembly for them to decide,” he said.

He added: “If a child born in other countries they are giving citizenship why not Gambia.”

For Mamou Njie, the alkalo should be involved in the discussion making.

He said:”if an individual is guarantee by the alkalo that is born in the village should be given a citizenship.”

Alagie Modou Sarr also said “citizenship should be given to child born in the Gambia, the NAM should not decide for us is like is upside down.”

He said that a child born in other countries are giving a citizenship then Gambia should give citizenship to a child born in the Gambia.

However vice chairman Hawa Sisey Sabally commented that a child found in the Gambia for 8years without a parent should be given a citizenship.

“If two parents are non- Gambian and born in the Gambia it should be taken to NAM to decide, she added.

However yet still we can sit as commissioners to consider your opinions in the draft Constitution before it’s finalized, she said.

She further explained that the consultation tour is to seek peoples opinion on matters related to the draft Constitution.