By MUHAMMED S. BAH
Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, Brikama North National Assembly member, calls for a consideration of the lower age limit for the qualification of standing for President in the country.
Hon. Darboe made this statement during his intervention on the debate of the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2017 recently, which was tabled before the Law makers by the Justice Minister, to amend the upper age limit for the Presidency.
Hon. Darboe argued: “If youths can vote during Presidential elections, they should also be given a chance to contest in such elections.”
Hon. Darboe further stated that if the constitution is providing for every citizen to have the right to vote and to be voted for, once a person reaches a certain age, then the amendment should not discriminate young people.
Hon. Darboe continued: ‘‘Now that the executive has tabled before law makers a bill to amend the upper age limit, it is high time for the ‘Term limit’ to be also tabled before the law makers. The term limit is very important and no government should be allowed to rule for more than 2 terms of 5 years.’’
On his Part, the member for lower Badibu also underscored the importance of considering the Youths to be able to partake in the Presidential elections as candidates. He also cited that the Youths should not be discriminated because of the age Limit.
The National Assembly on Tuesday 25 July 2017, passed the constitutional amendment bill 2017, to remove the upper age limit for the Presidency and increase the upper age limit for the retirement of judges to 75 years.
This shows that a person can only participate as a candidate in the Presidential elections he/she attains 30 years of age, rendering people under this age ineligible.
