(Issue Tuesday June 28 2016)
The
National Assembly members recently passed The Gambia Law School Bill 2016.
Tabling
the bill before deputies, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mama
Fatima Singhateh, said the Gambia Law School Bill 2016 was brought to the
Assembly in 2015.
She
said when it was due for assent it was brought to the attention of the
President to be assented to under section 100 sub-section 3 of the constitution
of The Gambia 1997, but he (the President) deemed it fit to return it to the
National Assembly for reconsideration and recommendation.
One
of the reasons the bill was taken back to the National Assembly was to ensure
that “section 5 is compatible with section 5 of the Legal Practitioner’s Act”
that has just been enacted.
“This
provision, under section 5, deals with the reconstitution of a council to
ensure that it makes provision for the inclusion of the Director General of the
Law School and the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of The Gambia.
That was the reason the bill was brought once more to the house,” she said.
The
Justice Minister further told lawmakers that the bill was brought before the
National Assembly last year to ensure that they established the Gambia Law
School as a legal entity, and it makes provisions for a noble legal entity in
The Gambia.
It
was also for the appointment of Director General of the Law School, and also
ensure that it has satisfactory legal framework that would ensure the proper
functioning of the law school, she further stated.
Seconding
the motion was Hon. Seedy Njie, Nominated Member, who said the Attorney General
and Justice Minister had indicated in good capability the amendment as she had
proposed, and also highlighted the reasons for the bill to be passed by
parliament under section 100 sub-section3.
“I
want to commend the Hon. Minister and the President as it is laudable and for
the Justice Minister to realize that certain issues are fit to be included in
this bill and advised that the bill be returned to parliament,” he added.
Hon
Njie said they were told that the amendment on the Law School Bill under
section 5 sub-section 1 is included.
“It
was elusive dream for most Gambians to acquire LMD degree anywhere in the world
talk less of acquiring Bachelor’s degree in law at home soil, and majority of
them are sponsored by the government.”
