NAM warns staff of Office of Clerk to desist from partisan politics

By Binta Jaiteh

The National Assembly member for Nianija constituency, Hon. Amadou Camara has warned the staff of the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly to desist from partisan politics, especially about internal matters between members.

He brought up this warning matter last Thursday during a debate on the resolutions of the Public Petitions Committee on the Petition of the GT Board’s concerned Staff. 

“I have been a member of this committee since I came to this parliament in 2017. I have never felt offended by any committee operation than this one,” Hon Camara nagged.

“Nobody dares to tell me that I have any interest in something, if that is the case I should be the one to declare that,” he added.

According to him, the petition came during the last legislature when he was a founding member of the committee. 

“I think issues of this, when happening, I have the right to know. I saw this report on my desk which made me more offended adding that whatever might be the reason he can’t tell. 

The lawmaker further questioned the attendance list that they claimed in the report. The lawmaker asked the vice chairperson of the committee, Hon. Fatou Jawara if she was present during the validation she replied ‘no,’ and the same applies to other members of the committee. 

He argued that the reason why he was being patient was that the presenter of the report was a female and that he had respect for her but if it was the chairperson of the committee member for Wuli East, Hon. Suwaibou Touray “definitely he would have heard something.” 

However, a member for Lower Saloum, Hon. Sainey Jawara was murmuring saying that everything will be clear today because the public deserves to know. A member for Foni Kansala, Almamy Gibba also said it seems that the committee as per the counting by the members, a chunk of members was not present.

“I want to seek the indulgence of the house to move a motion to avail the committee to go back and settle the matter,” the Honourable appealed.

Acting Speaker, Honourable Billay G Tunkara told members that every report should be adjusted to make it better. 

However, the acting Speaker informed the assembly that since this is the case, it would be ideal to suspend the debate on the Public Petitions resolutions and allow members of the committee to unite and report back to Parliament.