By Kebba AF Touray
Gambia’s Justice Minister, Dawda Jallow, yesterday Monday 23rd December 2024, introduced a bill titled: ‘‘Constitution for the Republic of the Gambia (Promulgation) Bill, 2024,” marking the first stage of reading of the bill in parliament.
The bill which was scheduled for introduction before members of parliament during the first sitting of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the National Assembly, was eventually withdrawn, due to some engagements that were ongoing on the 2024 draft constitution.
On the rescheduled date of yesterday Monday, 23rd December 2024, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, the Speaker of the National Assembly notified members in accordance with Standing Order 65, that only the first reading of the Constitution (Promulgation) bill 2024 will be done. He then invited the Attorney General and Minister for Justice as the person in charge of the bill, to hand over a copy to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
At this stage, Khalipha M. M. Mbaye, the Clerk of the National Assembly read the short title of the bill thus: “The Constitution of The Republic of the Gambia, (Promulgation) Bill 2024,” making the bill to have been read for the first time.
Continuing the process, Speaker Jatta said the next stage of the constitution of the Republic of the Gambia (Promulgation) Bill 2024 will be appointed during the next ordinary session, and justified that this is to ensure that the person in charge of the bill moves a motion for the second reading under Standing Order 66 (2) of the National Assembly, which he quoted thus: “At the conclusion of the proceedings on the first reading or any subsequent stage of a Bill, the next stage may be taken either forthwith or upon a day to be named, providing that second reading shall be taken no sooner than one working day after first reading.”
