Democracy denied

Last night's parliamentary rejection of our draft constitution represents a fundamental breach of democratic trust. In choosing to deny the Gambian people their sovereign right to decide through referendum, parliament has committed an act of constitutional vandalism that will echo through our history.

I am profoundly disappointed, not merely by the outcome, but by the process that led us here. The draft constitution, while imperfect, embodied the hopes and aspirations of ordinary Gambians who participated in good faith in our national consultation. These voices have been silenced by parliamentary myopia of certain NAMs.

Constitutional reform is not about perfection but about progress. The greatest constitutions in history were born imperfect and refined through democratic evolution. Our draft offered precisely such a foundation; robust enough to serve, flexible enough to adapt, and comprehensive enough to address the deficits of our current dispensation.

Parliament's role was never to substitute its judgment for that of the people on matters of constitutional magnitude. Yesterday's vote was not an exercise in legislative wisdom but an abdication of democratic responsibility. When some elected representatives deny citizens the right to choose their own fundamental law, they undermine the very legitimacy of their mandate.

The art of parliamentary democracy lies in compromise and consensus-building. Instead, we witnessed the triumph of narrow interests over national purpose. This is not the statesmanship our moment demands, nor the leadership our people deserve.

Yet I refuse to surrender hope. The Gambia's democratic journey cannot be derailed by misguided rejection of this bill. We must channel our disappointment into determination, our frustration into focus. The constitutional imperative remains urgent, and the people's sovereignty cannot be permanently denied.

I call upon all stakeholders to engage in immediate dialogue toward constitutional reset. We must build broader consensus, deepen public understanding, and ensure that future reforms reflect genuine national will rather than parliamentary convenience of certain forces.

The draft constitution may have failed in parliament, but the constitutional project must not fail in the nation. Democracy demands nothing less than our renewed commitment to the principle that ultimate power belongs to the people, not to those NAMs who temporarily hold office in their own name.

Our children deserve better than the politics of yesterday. The Gambia deserves a constitution worthy of its democratic aspirations. The work continues, and the people will ultimately prevail.