Lawmakers
yesterday tabled before deputies their various need of their constituencies and
suggested ways to fulfill them soonest.
During
continuation of the adjournment debate on the selection on committees, the
National Assembly Members for Banjul South, Hon. Ousman Sillah, said that in
the legislative year 2017-2022 reforms are expected to be effected by the
Assembly.
This,
he said, is in response to the expectations of the people who voted them into
office as well as in keeping with the manifesto of the Coalition 2016 which
brought the present executive to power.
“We
are expecting constitutional, legal and administrative reforms and even
institutional reform, in addition to that I want this August Assembly in order
for us to be of service to the nation and to give effects to section 112, we
should consider making amendment to section 91D of the constitution because
this will give lawmakers the confidence to speak their minds.
He
also spoke on the deplorable state of the capital city Banjul, saying urgent
needs of Banjul include good infrastructures and better sewage system, as the
city is currently home to poor drainage system and awful sanitation facility,
“especially the gutters and this call for concern”.
He
further added that people feel ashamed to say that they are from Banjul because
of the bad condition of the city.
The
National Assembly Member for Busumbala, Hon. Saikouba Jarju, in his words, said
he agreed with the NAM for Banjul South on the issue of Banjul being the
Capital city with a deplorable condition.
Hon:
Jarju added that his constituency has “a very big problem” because there is a
particular area left out by the former PPP and APRC regimes, saying nothing has
been done concerning his constituency.
He
said the road network in his constituency “is very poor”, adding that many of
the women in the area depend on gardening to make a living but there is no
market for their products, which is very serious and calls for concern.
Permanent secretaries and ministries have to be present at the National Assembly so they will listen to the National Assembly Members from the various constituencies and know their concerns because, he said. “We cannot go to their offices and be knocking on their doors to beg for something that belongs to the people.” He added.
The
National Assembly Member for Bundungka Kunda, Hon. Bakary Njie, said the main
problem in his constituency is lack of water. “And it is really a nightmare for
the people of Bundungka Kunda to have water as they have been denied a very
vital necessity hence something has to be done about the issue,” he said.
Hon.
Njie said they would sometimes pay water bills higher than people who get water
regularly, “which is very unjust because we paying for that water we are not
enjoying at all and when you go to lodge complaint to NAWEC they would tell you
different story”.
Other
National Assembly Members shared similar problems and called for immediate
actions from the relevant authorities.
The
debate was adjourned till today at 10:00am at the National Assembly.