By Landing Colley
Political affiliation has overshadowed lawmaker over the issue of Local government amendment Bill 2020 which was table before the parliament by Alhagie Jawara member for Lower Baddibu.
On Monday, private member’s bill that seeks to amend a part of the Local Government Act which says an elected local government official shall cease to be a member of a local government council if his/her party sacks him.
The private bill, sponsored by Lower Baddibu, lawmaker Alhagie Jawara seek to grant independent to the members of the Area Council from their respective political parties and to further enhance the system of Local Governance, autonomy, freedom of speech and debate in accordance with section 193 of the 1997 constitution, and to ensure council member sense of duty, function and action are influence by the Supreme national and community interest.
It could recall that United Democratic Party (UDP) and Brikama Area Council chairman Sheriffo Sonko have been in conflict since his expelled from the UDP party. However, the UDP executive wants to step-down and organise a fresh election.
A commotion erupted in the House whether to debate on the merit and principle of the Bill after a motion was laid which was not considered.
However, the Speaker with oversize function allowed the procedure of the debate in accordance with standing order 83.
Meanwhile, Ousman Sillah NAM for Banjul North said: “I believe what this amendment Bill is seeking to protect the power of the people that entrusted the power. If you are elected through the ticket of a political party your action here must be guided by section 112 of the constitution, if your political party does not support that what should dictate you should be your consent and national interest.”
He added: “If is about democracy the electorate are those that should have the right to remove an individual.”
Omar Ceesay NAM for Niamina East said “what is before the document and behind the document are completely different citing that the rationale behind the document it is best known to every individual here.”
“In as much as we are talking about independent as I am concern I was never in anyway dictated by my political party on what so ever,” he added.
He stated that if they believe that they have the support base to convince the people saying “I don’t think you have to struggle with a political party just for you to be chosen as a candidate for the political party.” “The party supported you, back you, finance and did everything possible to ensure that you secure that seat and you have nothing to do but to find your way out without any consequences and that is dishonest to me,” he said.
Ndey Yassin Secka Sallah, nominated member said “I am just worry and scared, worry in the sense that when we were here everybody was saying that we should try to do what we should do for our country but not for an individual. If my party is to sack me for the interest of the country I will not hesitate to go.”
Let us go away with this cosmetic party where force is applied, she said.
She added that Councillors, chairpersons and Mayors are voted for to serve the country willingly as their motherland.
“The 911 Bill came most of us in the House were happy and if they say no to this Bill they are in consistence and they should think about it;” she recalled.
