It's interesting to note that APRC makes fun of its controlled robber-stamp House od Law Makers. In most parts of the world, members of the legislature are feared and respected more than the members of the executive. In the Gambia, though, the contrary is the truth. The former is sure because the legislature plays a prominent role in  confirming the appointments of the executive, especially the cabinate. Moreover, the legislature presides over an impeachment proceeding of a president. Aboveall, members of the legislature are the law makers. They ratify bills and motions put before them by the executive. Thus, the passing of these bills rests largely on the shoulders of these members of the legislature.

Now, one may ask the question: why are Gambian parliamentarians or National Assembly Members weak? Well, the answer(s) to this question can be complex. However, one fundamental reason, as far as I am concerned, is the selection process to this high national office. In order words, instead of a person been nominated by the majority of his party to contest his or her constituency, he or she is nominated or his nomination has to be approved by his party's central committee, even if he's not the people's choice. This happened in the case of one of the contituencies in Niamina during the First Republic. Then Commissioner Lamin Waa Juwara was the Niamina people's choice. But he was not the choice of the PPP's Nomination Committee, chaired by Former President Sir Dawda Jawara. Lamin Juwara went ahead to contest the 1992 Parliamentary elections as an Independent candidate and he won. The trend is being the same in the Second Republic. In the last Legislative elections, in one of the constituencies in Foni, Abba Sanneh was said to be the people's choice during the nominations, but he lost to the choice of the APRC selection committee. He treatened to run on an Independent ticket. But as far as I know, he never did.

 In short, a National Assembly Member or law maker is been forced, from the very begining, into conflict of interest and role incompartibilty. This is precisely, among other reasons,  why they are not getting the respect and independence they deserve.

Please see the attached culled from Daily Observer.

Seedy
http://www.observer.gm/artman/publish/article_558.shtml

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