National Assembly Members Demand More Privileges

The Independent (Banjul)
NEWS
August 2, 2002
Posted to the web August 2, 2002

By Pk Jarju
Banjul

Members of the National Assembly are demanding for more privileges to suit
their status and the execution of their task as lawmakers.

They are demanding that each of them be provided with a vehicle to end their
transport woes, diplomatic passports to address embarrassing problems with
immigration officers, funds to attend conferences and accompany state
functionaries in their trips abroad.

Submitting a 14 May report by the Standing Committee on Privileges to the
Assembly Monday, which was later unanimously adopted by her colleagues, the
deputy speaker Honourable Belinda Bidwell stated that during the meeting they
agreed that members should be provided with vehicles on a government loan
system, which would be repaid within the lifespan of the present Assembly.

Honourable Bidwell who is the chairperson of the committee said this would make
their work in their constituencies more effective as it would ease their
mobility. She added that members of the National Assembly saw vehicles as a
necessity and not a privilege since it would help them in reporting to the
Assembly on time and attend other state functions without the hitch experienced
when most of them are left stranded on the road as they wait to join public
transport to the National Assembly. The deputy Speaker described the situation
as very humiliating and unsuited to their national status as the country's
venerable legislators.

She added that they have also agreed that official vehicles of the Assembly be
given number plates to identify them e.g. According to her, this will help
avoid confrontations or embarrassment with security personnel in the
performance of their duties. She added that they have also agreed that staff of
the Assembly be included in the quest for land allocation and that emphasis
were made that as legislators they should make sure that land distribution or
allocations are made without discrimination or favouritism.

According to Honourable Bidwell the committee also suggested that members
should be part of delegates to conferences, workshops or as part of
presidential or ministerial entourages in trips that could offer exposure to
members of the august Assembly.

Citing the presence of the Speaker Sheriff Dibba at the UN Special Session on
Children held in New York as an example Honourable Bidwell said they welcome
his attendance but also observed that it would have been significant also if
one of her colleagues in the Assembly had attended the Global Movement for
Children Committee.

She added that the committee also observed that most members are without the
1997 constitution or its amended version, thus causing the need for every
member of the House to be supplied with a copy of the constitution. She also
expressed the need for the renovation of the toilets at the National Assembly
and the praying ground. She said it was also uncomfortable that the committee
rooms were being used by members to receive visitors instead of the record
office and the lounge.

Bidwell said the committee also felt that members should be issued with
diplomatic passports, as is the case with all parliamentarians throughout the
world. She said such a document would bring an end to embarrassment visited on
members of the National Assembly, every time they encounter immigration
officers in their sojourn to attend conferences and workshops abroad. Members
of the National Assembly hold the usual standard passport, being used by
ordinary Gambians.

According to Honourable Bidwell members have also agreed that catering should
also be provided for the staff of the National Assembly during sessions to ease
the rigours associated with late night sessions. She said they have also called
for the restocking of the library of the Assembly and its refurbishment with an
air-conditioners and a satellite disc to enable members keep abreast with
international happenings.

They have also agreed that opportunities should be given to the staff for
further training within and outside the country and that government or UN
funding should be sought where support cannot be given. Members also agreed
that the income tax charges levied on members should be revisited as many
complained that it is too prohibitively high.

Members also agreed to approach the Secretary of State for Health for them to
be given priority for their health visits to hospitals and that staff should
also benefit from loan facilities for building purposes as other government
functionaries. They also called for utility vehicles to be provided for them to
address the difficulties of reaching home after late night sessions.

Meanwhile contributing to the recommendations of the commission the member for
Upper Saloum Hamat Bah described it as sad that seven months after their
election members lack decent vehicles which prevent them from performing
essential services to their constituencies 'while young cadet officers and
other government officials are driving expensive cars worth over D800, 000 at
the expense of the tax payers'.

'This is unjust and we need to take the right step to acquire this' he told his
approving colleagues. Honourable Bah said diplomatic passports for them are a
necessity not to ensure immunity but easy means of traveling within and outside
the country.

On his part the member for Basse Momodou Salieu Bah also harped on the
embarrassment members face as they scramble with ordinary Gambians for seats in
old decrepit Gele gelehs.

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