The Gambian public should begin to have a say on how they wish to be governed. They never had an opportunity to determine the content of the 1965 and 1970 Constitutions. They had the opportunity to have a say, but not a supreme say, in determining the content of the 1997 Constitution because of the absence of representative institutions when it was being subjected to a referendum for promulgation. Now is the time that representative institutions have a say in determining which clause to approve in Bill in consultation with every sector of society for submission to the IEC for a referendum that enables the people to make a final decision.
In the event that the second reading fails for a second time the country will be left with no option but to introduce a piecemeal amendment of the 1997 Constitution so that the concept of a term limit, a second ballot in the absence of 50 percent plus one in the first round, diaspora voting, women alone election to fill one third of the seats, disability representation and the concept of a running mate in presidential elections.
The national conversation on such subject matters is overdue. As custodians of a sovereign republic the people are expected to have their voices heard by those who seek to be their representatives.
