(CoPG) are disappointed once again on the recent rejection of suffrage being given to the diaspora at the National Assembly in the election Bill 2021. It could be recalled that the Supreme Court in January 2021 ruled that Section 39 of 1997 Constitution give the Gambians at home and abroad the right to vote in elections. Moreover, the election Decree 1996 that governs elections and mandates the Independent Electoral Commission as stipulated in the Constitution.
It could also be described as an official act of discrimination contrary to section 33 of the 1997
Constitution, which the National Assembly infringed the fundamental rights and freedom of Gambians according to section 17 of the same 1997 Constitution. The 1997 Constitution gave provisions for political rights to all Gambians as stipulated in section 26, was also violated by the National. Assembly’s vote.
The CoPG is disappointed with the lack of respect for the Gambian people by the National Assembly, This review at consideration stage should have been the issue of budget and expenditure for the registration of Gambians abroad.
We strongly believed that the action of the National Assembly does not reflect the aspirations of the Gambian people that they represent as one in three compounds are supported financially by a family member in the Diaspora. Besides the number of remittances they sent to the Gambia in 2024 according to the Gambia government amounts to over S775 Milion that equivalent to D56 Billion, more than 31 percent of the GDP.
We therefore strongly call for the reconsideration of this section of the Bill as Gambian Diasporans
contributes significantly in the economy of the country. We urge the representatives of the people, all stakeholders including CSOs, political actors, donor agents. international partners, community, political and religious leaders to be on one voice and retain the people’s power on the basis of the principles of good governance particularly citizens participation.
The CoPG therefore cal on the President to consider the condemnations from all concern citizens athome and abroad and not accent the Bill unitil the inclusion of Diaspora Vote is effected as promised by
him to be the eight regions of the Gambia back in 2017.
Your Excllency, you are urged to ensure your government respects for the rule of law in this case by implementing the supreme court ruling and adhere to the existing electoral laws,
Your government should strengthen the Judiciary and empower them by respecting their decision. In recent survey results of the Afrobarometer concluded that most Gambian feel the judiciary is not independent. This is confirmed by the attitude of your government in neglecting their rulings
For the information of all stakeholders, the CoPG will mobilize Gambians and protest against the
unconstitutional rejection of the Diaspora voting that disenfranchise them as Gambians
We urge the Gambians in the Diaspora to organize themselves and expose the government’s lack of political will and respect for the constitution.
For the Coalition of Progressive Gambians
Seedy Cham
Chairman
