The People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) head, Hon. Halifa Sallah, has emphasized the significance of setting up a constitutional review committee. During a nationwide validation process, this committee would inform the public about the 1997 constitution and the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) draft, solicit their opinions, and submit a comprehensive report to the executive and Parliament.
Sallah emphasized the present constitutional impasse during a press conference on Wednesday. He pointed out that the state merely released a draft rather than setting up a review committee to interact with the public, explain the 1997 constitution and the CRC draft, and collect feedback to present to the administration and Parliament. Sallah said, “That consultation did not take place.” “They presented a draft, it was published, and it is currently available to the public.”
“That is where we are right now, a constitutional dead end. Instead of making recommendations, the state should set up a constitutional review committee that will speak to everyone once more, explain the 1997 constitution and the CRC draft, then solicit feedback, present a report to the executive branch, Parliament, and the general public in a nationwide validation exercise, and finally decide on the process and content we will work on to create a third republic constitution. That should have been the result of consultation. There was no such consultation. Halifa Sallah stated, “They brought a draft, published it, and that draft is what is now in the public space.”
Sallah brought up important concerns with the executive’s proposal. “How should we handle it? Three months later, the law will be republished for a second time before being introduced for the first and second readings in the National Assembly. What are the members of the National Assembly going to do? “How can we demonstrate that we don’t want it?” he said.
How should we handle it? The question is that. We are here to inform you of the inevitable: the bill will undoubtedly be submitted to the National Assembly for a first reading after being published a second time in three months. It will then proceed to the second reading. What will the members of the National Assembly do? How can we demonstrate that we don’t want something if we say we don’t? Halifa Sallah stated, “That is the question.”
He also looked into the repercussions of rejecting the proposed constitution. “Knowledge is the prerequisite for understanding what ought to occur. Furthermore, no Gambian should be unaware of this. We are here to inform you that this bill must be sent to the National Assembly for a second reading. Indeed, similar to the CRC law, the members of the National Assembly could declare at the second reading that they do not support it, in which case it would be dead. That is one possible outcome. Should that be the case? Is that an indication of true sovereignty? Possessing the right and ability to act is what it means to be sovereign.
“They don’t have responsibility,” he said, emphasizing that the executive branch lacks the sovereign authority to implement a Third Republic’s constitution. All they can do is suggest complete halt. The members of the National Assembly have the authority to decide how to proceed with the measure. They are the ones who have the authority to claim that anything can be altered. Therefore, this bill should be reviewed by all Gambians. Examine the draft of the CRC. You can accuse them of whatever you choose, including copying the 1997 Constitution or the CRC. You have the right to voice your displeasure with the action that has been taken, and you can accuse them of violating your right to free speech and opinion.
In closing, he exhorted Gambians to carefully read and comprehend the papers. But above all, you should read and comprehend each of these documents and consider which provision best serves the interests of the Sovereign People of the Gambia if you wish to form an informed opinion. Which provision ought to be deemed appropriate for a sovereign republic’s constitution? The members of the National Assembly should then be informed of this, debate it, and decide what should be included in that clause; if they disagree, they will reject it.
