By Binta Jaiteh
The Mayor of Banjul, Rohey Malick Lowe, has advised the Independent Electoral Council (IEC) during stakeholders review on the electoral bill against accepting funding from Institutions.
“Independent Electoral Council should not receive any funds from institutions other than the government. Unless and until if international entities like UNDP or United Nations but from private entities that will make them biased because we are all human every stakeholder has a position, is either you supporting A or B,” she said.
She added: “Receiving money from the government that will give more credibility to them. Attestation is Key concern the chiefs should be out adding that the Alkalo should be responsible for attestation.”
She described women leadership as very crucial saying “prohibition during elections that is part 6 clause (92) and I think that clause should widen and broaden , the clause is saying slander, insult of another candidate.”
I think this is important when we want to have more women leadership, we cannot just stop here, adding what are the penalties for such an act, she asked.
Saihou Jawara , councillor Kuntaur Area Council said National Assembly and the chairperson to deposit some money “I think that should be deferred, lawmakers should have their own payment deposit different from the chairperson, and from my own observation the chairperson is on the high side.”.
He continued that polling stations are problems in the Provinces and most of the stations are far. I’m appealing if we definitely need an increase of polling stations that will make the work easier, he said.
Modou Jonga CEO Brikama Area Council said work of the districts shall be in accordance with the Local Government Act, adding that the section should be specific because it is dealing with local government date and the year should be included because the Local Government has done a lot of amendments.
“The establishment of a political party we read that political parties are expected to disclose their source of funding. There should be a section that will refer to them if they fail to disclose,” he said.
Landing B.Sanneh , Chairman of Mansakonko said as a matter of concern the three months allowance given between the virtue of chairperson of mayors before elections.
He said in terms of resource management, with the period of three months sometimes the interim that will come the manifesto might not be elected by people.