By Kebba AF Touray
The Majority Leader Hon. Billay G Tunkara, has said that the failure of the promulgation bill 2024, to meet the required threshold is regrettable. He also urged that its failure should not be misconstrued rather as an opportunity to dialogue to building consensus in the constitutional building reform and building of the country. He said this on Friday 11th July 2025, while tabling the motion for adjournment debate, which climaxed the end of the said session, during which he provided detailed report on the just concluded session. The session was convened for the period Monday 16th June to Friday 11th July 2025, in the 2025 Legislative Year. Throughout the session, the lawmakers considered and approved its daily records of votes and engaged cabinet Ministers, during the question-and Sessions with the state Minister, on matters regarding their portfolio Ministries and offices. Tabling the motion for the assembly to adjourn sine-a-die, which comprises of the said report, he said that pursuant to standing order 100, the “Works and Transport Minister, responded to the report of the foreign affairs committee of the legislature on its oversight visit to the Gambia Mission in Bissau”. One of the most significant legislative undertakings of the session, he said “was the debate on the Promulgation Bill 2024, which sought to repeal and replace the current 1997 constitution with a new, progressive framework reflective of the democratic aspirations of our people and the current democratic dispensation of this government”. He decried that though the bill represents the renewed attempt at constitutional reform, and the spirted debate on its merits and principles, “the bill regrettably failed to attain the required threshold for progression”. More importantly, he echoed “the failure of the bill should not be misconstrued as a rejection of reform, but rather an opportunity for further dialogue, consensus building to ensure that we collectively build the country we want”. He also said that the assembly tabled and considered bills, such as Constitution of the Republic of the Gambia (Promulgation) Bill 2025 for its second reading, National Environment Management Bill 2025, for first and second readings, Medicine and Related Products (Amendment) Bill 2025 from first reading to consideration stage. “The students revolving loan scheme bill 2024, proceeded to consideration and now read the third time. Election bill 2021 for continuation of consideration and the prerogative of mercy bill 2025, which is now read the first time,” he said. He cited that some of the parliamentary reports received and debated on during the session, include but not limited to the report of Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH), Public Enterprise Committee (PEC) on State Owned Enterprises, report of FPAC ON US$30 Million oil scandal, and joint committee on Environment and Agriculture on transhumance in the Gambia. He said “This session featured the State of Nation Address (SONA 2025) by President Adama Barrow. This was followed by the debate on the address”. Hon. Tunkara continued that the role of the assembly in ensuring accountability in the governance process is taking a new shape, and “our commitment, as always remains strong in ensuring that all public officials remain accountable to the people we swore to serve”. Subsequently, after moving his motion, the Member for Upper Saloum, Hon. Alhagie Mbowe, seconded, who further moved another motion for the assembly adjourn sine-a-die without debate. The motion by the Upper Saloum lawmaker, was unanimously agreed upon by the lawmakers, leading to the assembly adjourning without debate.
