NAMs Stage Walkout

The Daily Observer (Banjul)
NEWS
December 26, 2002
Posted to the web December 26, 2002

By Alieu Badara Ceesay & Bakary Muritala
Banjul

Two National Assembly Members, Hamat Bah of the opposition NRP and deputy
speaker, Mrs Belinda Bidwell both staged a momentary walkout of the
Assembly following what most Members regard as a discussion on trivial
matters.

Mr Bah told journalists that he was bored with trivial issues being
discussed in the Assembly. Though Mrs Belinda did not comment on her
walkout, it came after she raised the issue of nine vacancies existing in
the Assembly and asking the speaker why the vacancies were not filled. She
was however told to rather take up the issue with the speaker at his office
and not in the chamber.

Earlier, Mama Kandeh of Jimara Constituency had criticised fellow NAMs for
lack of commitment to duty, citing occasions when Members leave before the
end of business. "Are we here only to ratify loans or represent our
people?" He asked. He continued to challenge fellow parliamentarians to
create constituency farms like President Jammeh's Kanilai farm.

Deputy speaker, Belinda Bidwell, raised issues on the whereabouts of a
D50,000 sum budgeted for entertainment of guests in the Assembly. "I have
even requested for tea, toilet papers and biscuits without success. Where
has that money gone to?" she asked.

At this juncture the speaker, Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, intervened to say
that the Members should stop washing the Assembly's dirty linen in
public. "You should raise these issues in a special meeting," he told
Members.

But the deputy speaker suggested that the matter should be discussed in
public as it concerned Members.

At this point Hamat Bah decided he had had enough and marched out saying
the house is wasting valuable time on trivial matters.

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