#Headlines

NAM Ceesay urges Darboe not to meet Barrow for draft constitution talks

Mar 15, 2021, 11:24 AM | Article By: Buba Gagigo

The National Assembly Member for Serekunda West Constituency Madi Ceesay has urged the Leader and Secretary General of The United Democratic Party [UDP], lawyer Ousainou Darboe not to meet President Barrow for talks on the draft constitution, because he (The President) killed the draft.

Ceesay made these remarks, following the deadlock in the fourth round of the draft constitution talks, which prompted suggestions on Thursday by other stakeholders that Darboe should meet Barrow to dialogue on the way forward for the document.

“If I were Darboe I will not do that. What is between Darboe and Barrow? Nothing absolutely as far as the constitution is concerned. These are two people who all hold their political parties. Their political ideologies are different. And why would it be necessary for Ousainou to sit with Barrow over the draft constitution? If I were Mr Darboe’s adviser, I will advise against that, simply because the draft was killed by Adama Barrow and his cohorts,” Ceesay said.

The Serrekunda West parliamentarian recently vowed to reject any attempt at changes to the country’s draft constitution when reintroduced at the National Assembly as a bill.

After the collapse of the talks, the future of the draft remains uncertain, after 17 parliamentarians referred to as sympathisers of President Barrow voted against the promulgation bill on 22nd September, 2020.