Members of the National Assembly Monday moved a motion to express sincere appreciation and gratitude to the President for his speech during the State Opening of the new legislative year.
The motion was moved by Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Majority Leader and National Assembly Member for Serrekunda East, and seconded by Hon. Abdoulie Saine, member for Banjul Central.
Moving the motion, Hon. Jatta said “it is indeed very important for deputies to thank and applaud the President’s speech during his State Opening of parliament”.
Hon. Jatta noted that the President had highlighted the commitment of the NAMs in enacting many laws that served the interest of the Gambians, in particular, and humanity at large.
He challenged the Minority Leader, Hon. Samba Jallow, for his comments in one of the local print media with regards to the postponement of the State Opening of the National Assembly, which was scheduled earlier.
Hon. Jatta further said the Minority Leader referring to the President not coming to the State Opening as “disrespectful and a disregard is a total distortion”.
Jatta also highlighted some of the developments made by the APRC government such as the building of schools, roads and in many other areas.
Hon. Abdoulie Saine, member for Banjul Central, Alhagie Sillah, member for Banjul North and other honorable members thanked the President for his speech during the State Opening of the 2016 legislative year.
Hon. Samba Jallow, Minority Leader, said the President’s “declaration of The Gambia as an Islamic State is not in line with the constitution”.
He said the President should not just announce The Gambia as an Islamic state without the due process of the constitution or without the amendment of the constitution.
The Minority Leader further noted that the President’s announcement had “violated the constitution of The Gambia”.
He further said “there are implications on anyone who has violated the constitution of The Gambia”, quoting section 67 of the constitution.
Hon. Samba Jallow further said the opposition are not given the chance to access the state media, and also sometimes they are denied permits, or intercepted after being given a permit by the police to hold political rallies.
