By: Kebba AF Touray
The Gambia Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) has been summoned by the National Assembly Select Committee on Public Enterprise Committee (PEC) to submit its activity report and financial statement before the oversight body.
The decision to summon PURA was taken by the committee on 27th January, 2021, after the Authority failed to appear before PEC to submit reports for scrutiny and possible consideration.
This decision was conveyed by Halifa Sallah, the Chairperson of the select committee on behalf of the committee.
“The Gambia Public Utility Regulatory Authority Board and Management, is summoned to appear before this committee, tomorrow 11am, the activity report and financial statements, for the year ended 31st December 2019,” he said.
“It is the decision of the committee that the Clerk conveys the summons to the Board and Management for their appearance tomorrow and we hope it would be convey to them that failing to appear, would be seen as contempt of the National Assembly.
“That is not something we wish to enforce in any nature, but section 109 is very clear and it states that for the purpose of effectively performing its functions, each of the committees shall have all of the powers, rights and privileges as are vested in the High Court at a trial in respect of enforcing the attendance of the witnesses and examining them on oath affirmation or otherwise, compelling the production under oath,” Sallah said.
He stressed that every public enterprise, is required by the constitution section 175 subsection 5 and indicates very clearly without any ambiguity, that public enterprise shall within three months of the end of its financial year, submit an annual report on its business and operation during the preceding year.
“2019 is long overdue since 31st March 2020, but since 2020 is due by 31st March 2021, this is why still the latitude is provided for consideration of the activity report and financial statement for the year ended 31st December 2019.
“PURA falls within that time frame and that is by it is being instructed to appear before the committee by 11:00am tomorrow for of submission of its activity report and financial statement for the year ended 31st December 2019,” he said.
