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Momodou
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 Posted - 28 Jun 2011 : 21:53:37
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Gambians want to know what we say at the National Assembly,” Says Hon. Sidia Jatta
By Lamin Sanyang
27-06-11
The National Assembly was on Thursday 23rd June, engaged in an Adjournment Debate as deputies took their turn to point out some of the problems that are affecting the people of their constituencies and the need for the concerned authorities to take the necessary steps to redress these problems before things get out of hand. As criticisms flare, the NAM for Wuli West said the sessions should be broadcast live on GRTS so that the Gambian people would know what is happening at the National Assembly.
The Adjournment Debate was moved by, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, the NAM for Serrekunda East and the Majority leader. He talked about the reports, bills and motions that passed through the Assembly in the past weeks. He also touched on the issues of tenants and landlords, employees and employers, the armed and security forces, road networks and the farmers in the country and called for enforcement of the labour act.
The motion was seconded by Hon. Adama Cham, NAM for Kombo North. He emphasized the importance of peace which, he said, should not be compromised. He commended President Jammeh for the completion of the West field-Sukuta road. He also expressed concern for the residents of Kotu Quarry who were moved to Sare Pateh around Mariama Kunda. He appealed to the authorities to removed the heaps of gravel on the road to create water ways otherwise the same situation at the Kotu Quarry would happen to other areas during the rainy season.
The NAM for Banjul North, Hon. Alagie Sillah, expressed concern that the city of Banjul is below sea level. He said an amount of D6 million was budgeted to retrenched the city but surprisingly flooding is taking place.
“Imagine People at Campama can catch fish in their compounds. It is back flooding where you cannot find a place to stand at a certain football field and the rainy season has not started,” said Hon. Sillah.
The Banjul North NAM, also expressed concern over the state of affairs of sports in the country. He said millions of monies are spent and that they still are masquerading. He noted the recent problem between the players and the football governing body in the country and said that instead of looking into the problem to resolve the issue they went to the press. He said some players were stranded in Dakar and the Foreign Ministry refused to support them.
“I want the President to know what is going on. Somebody is paid for more than D400, 000 (Four thousand dalasi) who did not want to work with Gambians because he did not want to leave expertise when he leaves,” said NAM Sillah.
The National Assembly Member for Wuli West, Hon. Sidia Jatta, said he has a long list of farmers who are owed money and the rainy season has started and they have not received the last year groundnut money. He expressed concern for these poor farmers whose groundnuts were taken without getting their money.
“This is incredible. You have spent the whole of your life working without getting your money. Most of these farmers take loans. I urge the committee on Agriculture to do what they should do. This people need money to survive and they are still paying their tax,” said Hon. Jatta.
The Wuli West NAM said he think all members of the National Assembly should be concerned about the farmers in their constituencies to be paid their money. He said it may be true that fertilizers are going out of the country to the neighboring country but it is also true that most of the fertilizers sold at Sare Ngai are from Senegal. He pointed out that poverty cannot be eradicated in this country without prioritizing agriculture. He said IMF is telling people not to subsidize agriculture when it is subsidized all over Europe . He urged the need to subsidize the fertilizer because the amount is expensive. .He expressed concern about the issue of floods and the lack of ferries to cross the river at Fatatenda, where people have to paddle canoes, especially in the case of women in labour who need to get medical services. He said the Health Centre at Yorobawol should be rehabilitated.
The Wuli West NAM said it is their responsibility to make the National Assembly more effective because it is the most important institution in the country. He said the present state does not make it look like a Parliament. He said it is not an issue of the building where the sessions are held. He said the Assembly is isolated like an’ orphanage’ because the people who should be concerned are not coming to the sessions. He said if it was not the journalists, the people would not know what is happening, adding that although some of these media reports are not accurate.
“Let them open the TV to hear what we are saying in the National assembly. Gambians want to hear what we are saying here,” concluded Hon. Jatta.
The nominated member, Hon. Seedy Njie, raised concern over the road that connects Nianija and Upper Saloum and described it as not motor-able. He said in the cases of heavy down pour the people face lot of problems and that women cannot access their rice fields. He urged for the construction of feeder roads in that part of the country.
The NAM for Kiang Central, Hon. Babanding Daffeh, complained about the rent problems, especially for Gambians with large families who are not fortunate to have land.
“What is disheartening is some landlords would ask you for six months payment. The law is here to deal with them,” said Hon. Daffeh.
He complained about the difficulty of getting sand at Sanyang and the expensive prices. He urged the Office of the President which is responsible for the department of Geology to take the necessary steps to protect the beaches. He advised people to go back to the mud blocks as the Community Development was doing.
The Kiang Central NAM said water is a problem in his constituency, especially in the southern part of Kabada where there are more cattle than human beings. He said the boreholes in Kwinella are not functioning and that the people at the ‘Lumo’ have to walk long distances to fetch water.
The Majority leader, in wrapping up the debate, said the select committees of the Assembly would invite the GGC to table the problem of farmers. He emphasized the need for The Gambia College Council to appoint a new head for the institution. The Majority leader also expressed the age old concern as to why the concerned government authorities are not coming to the Assembly to attend the sessions. He said they are going to make provision s that would not be questionable outside the Assembly. He also talked about giving priority to the road situation in Nianija for rehabilitation.
Source: Foroyaa
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