Members
of the National Assembly Tuesday amended and passed Section 62 of the 1997
Constitution to revise the compulsory retirement age of a judge of a superior
Court and removed the upper age-limit for holding presidential office and
connected matters.
The
1997 Constitution placed an age limit on qualification for presidency in the
country at 65, as well as the appointment of vice president, which has similar
qualifications as president.
Moving
the motion before the members of National Assembly, the Minister of Justice
Aboubacarr Tambadou, said the bill also seeks to extend the age at which a
judge of superior court must vacate office.
He
added that the amendment of the bill would facilitate and encourage qualified,
competent and experienced Gambians to be appointed as judges of the superior
courts and candidates to be elected to the political office of the president.
The
Minority Leader and NAM for Niamina Dankunku Hon. Samba Jallow, in seconding
the motion, said the age limit should not have been in the constitution in the
first place.
Many
National Assembly members welcome the amendment, saying the section was
discriminatory and has no place in the country’s statute book.
