Gambian MPs say President has no power to sack them
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) – Scores of Gambian parliamentarians have argued that the president has no constitutional powers to dismiss a sitting MP from the National Assembly insisting that President Adama Barrow’s marching orders to a member is “unconstitutional.”
Rising from the assembly caucus meeting held in Gambia’s legislative chambers in Banjul on Monday the parliamentarians came up with a resolution dismissing President Barrow’s sacking of a female nominated member, Ya Kumba Jaiteh, as unconstitutional.
“The president has no power or authority to dismiss any member of the National Assembly. That is unconstitutional and it is not in the spirit of the constitution to revoke the nomination of any member of the National Assembly,” the parliamentarians maintained.
“The National Assembly is therefore not recognising or accepting the purported revocation of the nomination of Hon Ya Kumba Jaiteh and considers it null and void.”
Meanwhile, the majority leader of parliament, Kebba K Barrow, says for the president to sack a sitting MP is “a mockery” to Gambia’s newly found democracy.
“This is not what we had fought for. We are trying to save the integrity of the parliament. MPs are not civil servants and therefore, they cannot be fired by the president just like that.”
The debate over whether Gambian President has the powers to fire MPs came in the wake of President Barrow’s decision to revoke Jaiteh’s membership in the parliament who has served as a nominated member for almost two years.
The Gambian presidency is yet to give reasons behind the attempt to remove the MP from the parliament.
A letter issued on Monday to Ms Jaiteh by the Secretary General and Head of Gambia’s Civil Service, Ebrima Camara stated: “I write to convey executive decision to revoke your nomination as National Assembly Member with immediate effect.”
-0- PANA MLJ/MA 26Feb2019
