The Independent Published Friday, 24 March, 2000
Our parliamentary democracy is at risk
The National Assembly member for Saloum and NRP leader Hamat Bah has said
that The Gambia's parliamentary democracy could be judged negatively by the
outside world.
Mr Bah made these remarks at the recent National Assembly meeting for the
continuation of the debate on the president's speech marking the opening of
2000 legislative year. Mr. Bah further said that the National Assembly would
not accept decrees, which are inimical to democracy and human rights and
called on his fellow members to 'scrap them out'.
'The decrees must be scrapped out of the constitution, because they are not
valuable to the constitution. We should repeal them if our parliamentary
democracy is to be recognised,' he said.
Speaking on the Bivac issue, the NRP leader described Bivac as a failure,
since its policy is to gain revenue not to lose it. 'The revenue has reduced
drastically, it cannot work in The Gambia,' he commented.
On foreign affairs, Honourable Bah urged the international community to be
generous and award visas to Gambian youths to go and learn new skills abroad
in order to work for their country's betterment, adding that if they want to
reduce poverty, let them create accessibility to new skills and technology
to Gambians. He described Gambia-Taiwan relationship as being in limbo. He
said the two governments are transacting millions without the consent of the
Gambian people. He alleged that 52 tractors were given to President Jammeh
which should have been given to farmers now; 'but he would wait until the
campaign period and start giving them away, as if he owns them. They do not
belong to him,' he said.
He further alleged that the Taiwanese government is funding construction and
furnishing of Yundum Army Barracks. 'It is unfortunate that millions of
dollars can be transacted from government to government without our
consent,' he said.
On Agriculture, Honourable Bah further blamed the government for its failure
to purchase farmers' nuts, noting that 'the people who earn once every 12
months must be given due consideration'. He added that during Jawara's
27-year rule, farmers had never experienced any difficulties like this.
'The APRC claimed to come to safe our farmers but they are now maltreating
them, it is rather unfortunate,' he concluded.
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