By Kebba AF Touray
Members of the National Assembly Wednesday called upon the Gambia Government to improve its efforts in fighting corruption.
They made the recommendation during the adjournment debate. The legislators also asked the Government to address lack of drugs in the health facilities.
On Wednesday, 24July 2024, there was an adjournment debate in the legislative house in Banjul. The National Assembly members took turns to discuss issues of concern regarding the well-being of the country.
Assan Touray, the member for Bakau, said the level of corruption in public institutions is ‘beyond expression’ as he claimed that it get to the height of mountain Kilimanjaro. He submitted that the reports of the Public Enterprise Committee (PEC) and Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) of the National Assembly exposed corruption in the country. He called on the President of the Republic to implement the recommendations.
He said the National Assembly passed the Anti-Corruption Bill, which is now a law, but the Commission has not still been established. He called on the President to take steps to prevent the country from sinking because of corruption and corrupt practices.
He said he visited the Ndemban Clinic, but what he saw was unbearable. He stated that he saw patients lying on the floor without access to beds. He explained that access to medications is a challenge. He called on his colleagues in the National Assembly to work together to remedy the problem of the health facility.
Alfusainey Ceesay, the member for Sami hailed the Government through the Petroleum and Energy Minister for providing electricity to communities in his constituency. He said MRC Holland Foundation has been supportive in the area of education. He added that the Government should now consider building science schools with good laboratories. He decried that the schools built in his area lack laboratories that the students can use for the science practical exercises.
He said the Government should build a skills center in CRR North.
Kebba Tumani Sanneh, the Member for Foni Jarrol, said the level of corruption in the Gambia is worse than the Ebola Virus. He stated that if the resources of the country are managed wisely, the minimum pay of a civil servant will be more than Eight Thousand Dalasi (D8000).
“We may talk about the lack of funds, but what is key is how we manage the resources we have to ensure that they are effectively utilised to attain our goals,” he said.
On the security of the country, he claimed that the ECOMIG is an occupation force as it takes charge of the security of the country, including the State House.
“My state house is supposed to be run and managed by my people. I have trust in my men and women in uniform, and they should take charge of our state house. As long as I continue seeing foreign forces who are not Gambians, I will continue saying that we are under foreign occupation,” he said.
He called on the Government to address the issue of migration to Europe using the perilous route via the high seas. He said the Department of Immigration should be provided with adequate equipment to be able to patrol and monitor the sea.
He blamed the Government for failing to honour a court judgement in which it was held that one Omar Sarjo is a Gambian and should be reinstated in the army, and be compensated. Omar Sarjo was accused of being the son of MFDC fighters’ group leader, Salifu Sadio, a claim the court dismissed. He stated that that judgement has still not been enforced.
Sheriff Sarr, the Member for Jeshwang, said the reason people outside the parliament do not have respect for the members of parliament is because the members do not have respect for one another.
“If you want to be respected, you must first respect yourself and the people you are dealing with,” he said.
He called on the Government to continue the OIC road project in his area, which he said has been delayed. He said the Ministry of Works and Construction should intensify the construction project ongoing in his area. He added that the people want it done.
“The challenge is further compounded when it rains because the compacts are flooded and the tanbi wetland area is prone to flood. When it rains there is always a problem. So, am appealing to the Minister to intervene and engage the contractors to speed up the works,” Sheriff Sarr said.
Nominated Member Kebba Lang Fofanna said drug abuse has caused deaths among young people, especially the consumption of Kush.
“Kush in all forms is not good. The challenge in the fight against Kush starts from the homes and it’s disheartening that even girls and young people are abusing kush. The fight against Kush starts from the homes in reversing this negative attitude,” he said.
The Member advocated for the penalties for Kush to be increased.
Tamsir Cham, the mmber for Lower Nuimi, said there is no feeder road in his constituency. He appealed to the Minister of Works and Construction to look into that and provide feeder roads to his people.
“I have gone round the health facilities in my constituency. People complained about lack of enough staff and medication. Am urging the Minister of Health to address this urgently,” he said.
