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Hamat Bah on constituency re-demarcation bill

Jun 29, 2015, 9:48 AM | Article By: Njie Baldeh

Hamat Bah, party leader and secretary general of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), has said the IEC’s decision on re-demarcation of constituencies “is a positive development and also very timely”.

The NRP leader was speaking in an exclusive interview with this reporter at his residence in Sinchu Alagie on Sunday.

He said the creation of five new constituencies would increase extra costs to government, but it was a necessity.

The NRP leader also said the IEC should consider amalgamating some of the small constituencies in terms of voter population.Jarra, Kiang, Foni and Janjanbureh constituencies, for instance, should be amalgamated to a normal sizeable constituency.

A bill entitled: ‘An Act to amend the Elections Act and for connected matters’, will be tabled at the National Assembly.

The bill, which appears in supplement B of the Gazette, states that Kombo North, which is one constituency, should be spilt into three constituencies, namely Sanneh Menterreng constituency, Old Yundum constituency, and Busumbala constituency.

Kombo Central, which is one constituency, should be spilt into two constituencies namely, Brikama North constituency and Brikama South constituency.

Serrekunda East, which is one constituency, should be spilt into two constituencies, namely Tallinding Kunjang constituency and Latrikunda constituency.