QUESTION OF THE DAY
WHAT WILL PRESIDENT JAMMEH SAY TO THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ON CHRISTMAS DAY?
The feedback we have from the Christian community is that consultation is taking place to enable the heads to engage in a fact finding mission on the implication of the unconstitutional Brufut declaration on the Christian community.
Whenever they have the possibility to meet the president they should remind him that he has sworn to defend the 1997 constitution which has accorded equal political rights to all citizens irrespective of religion, gender or ethnic origin which is stipulated under section 26 as follows:
“Every citizen of The Gambia of full age and capacity shall have the right, without unreasonable restrictions –
(a) to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;
(b) to vote and stand for elections at genuine periodic elections for public office, which elections shall be by universal and equal suffrage and be held by secret ballot;
(c) to have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in The Gambia.”
Under the 1997 Constitution all are equal in sovereignty. Hence religion, gender or ethnic origin does not define the quality of citizenship of a person. Anybody could be elected to any post. He should therefore be asked how his declaration would affect the Constitution and the citizen who happens to be a non Muslim. The whole world would be waiting for his reply to determine whether Christmas would be merry in the Gambia or not .
