|
Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Apr 2007 : 15:49:28
|
Foroyaa Editorial:
WHO IS THE NEXT IEC APPOINTEE?
THE INSTITUTION THAT JUST CANNOT RETAIN ITS COMMISSIONERS
As we commemorate Republican day, 24 April 2007, the day on which the sovereignty of the people was established 27 years ago, in 1970 it is necessary for Foroyaa to focus on the institution which is established to oversee the assertion of the sovereign will of the Gambian people to determine their manner of government; that is the Independent Electoral Commission.
The Constitution of the Republic establishes security of tenure of members of the IEC which many of them never enjoyed.
Section 42 of the constitution states among other things that "the members of the commission shall be appointed for a period of seven years and may be reappointed for one further term."
This means that the tenure of office of a member of the commission is 7 years. The longest period a person can serve as IEC member is two terms adding up to 14 years.
The fact of the matter however is that since the 1997 Constitution came into being the members of the IEC have been changing so rapidly that one wonders whether they are experiencing any security of tenure as provided for by the constitution.
The recent appointment of Mr. Alieu Omar Njie, a member of the Commission to the office of Acting Mayor KMC is an example of the situation of uncertainty that has plagued the IEC since its inception.
In short, once Mr. Njie occupied the office of Mayor he became disqualified both by the Local Government Act and the Constitution for membership in the Independent Electoral Commission.
Now that Mr. Njie is no longer a member of the IEC somebody else should be appointed to the post.
Foroyaa invites Gambians to begin to propose candidates for the post to determine whether the President will react to public opinion favourably. Foroyaa would like to propose Ms. Bijou Peters or Mrs. Belinda Bidwell. Either one of these women are likely to take this important function seriously and serve with independence and impartiality as has already been displayed by their track record.
Do you have other Gambians who should be given recognition for public service? Write and we will publish your opinion.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 47/2007, 25 - 26 April, 2007
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
Topic Locked
