 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Apr 2021 : 17:19:39
|
=========
https://dailynewsgm.com/was-it-a-deliberate-act-to-disfranchised-citizen-living-abroad/
=========
EDITORIAL:
Was it a Deliberate Act to Disfranchised Citizen living Abroad?
By
Madi MK Ceesay
April 16, 2021
It is very likely that our brothers and sisters living in the diaspora will not be able to take part in the coming electoral cycles. Section 39 (1) of the 1997 constitution is very clear about who can register.
It is clear that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will carry out the May 2021 voter registration with the old electoral laws. section 39 (1) of the 1997 constitution, which reads: Every citizen of the Gambia being eighteen years of or older and of sound mind shall have the right to vote for a purpose of election of a President and members of the National Assembly, and shall be entitled to be registered as a voter in a National Assembly constituency for that purpose.
Since the registration of voters is lined up for May 2021 and the IEC is using the existing laws automatically excludes those brother and sisters of ours in the diaspora as the 1997 constitution clearly explains that any place out of the Gambia is not considered as part of any constituency of the Gambia and by the old law such persons cannot register.
The IEC said the government of the Gambia were inform that there is a need for an amendment of section 39 (1) to enable the people living in the diaspora be registered and that information was given long, and yet the Gambia government never brought any bill in respect to amend section 39 (1).
That could have been done long since but unfortunately it was not done and now there seem to be no time enough to do that and thus our citizens living abroad are being disfranchised. The process of amendment takes time , thought the section in question is not one of those entrenched clauses but due process must follow. The process can take up to 30 days , and even if we have to start that process it will certainly have to affect our election dates.
However as the electoral Commission boss said it is not too late but we want to believe its late already. If the government is serious about getting our citizens living abroad to participate in the next election, then they have to come up with a propose amendment Bill and that has to come with a letter of urgency to the Assembly for an extra ordinary session of the Assembly.
So a serious government can fast track the process and the Assembly can then work as well on the new Election Bill, have both done and then our diaspora can take part in the process.
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2021 : 22:01:17
|
I know I am a simple soul But correct me if I am wrong , how can a Gambian living in another country even if he has the new improved Voters card actually place his or her MARBLE in the location he or she prefers,am I missing something here ? 
Dear Reader please enlighten me. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
Edited by - toubab1020 on 18 Apr 2021 22:02:32 |
 |
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2021 : 12:10:15
|
==========
https://foroyaa.net/diaspora-voting/
==========
EDITORIAL on April 19, 2021
Realistic Prospect Or A Lost Opportunity
Foroyaa has received many questions regarding the prospects for Diaspora participation in the Presidential election of 2021.
The facts are already evident.
Section134B of the Elections Act states that, “The Commission shall by notice publish a Calendar of election dates at least one year before the conduct of any Public elections.”
The IEC did publish its Calendar which aimed to conduct voter registration nationwide from 14th January to 26th February 2021.
Diaspora voter registration was scheduled to take place from 1st July to 31st July 2021.
Presidential Election, national and Diaspora, is scheduled for 4th December 2021.
The Commission experienced delay in the national registration exercise which has been rescheduled from 29th May to 14th July.
The IEC should draw up a new update of its calendar.
Is it mandatory for Diaspora registration to take place?
The answer is in the positive.
Section 11of the Elections Act states:
“(1) The Commission shall prepare, compile and maintain in accordance with this Part, a register of voters for each constituency and a register of Gambian registered voters in foreign countries.”
This is the law buttressed by Section 39 of the Constitution which states :
“(1) Every citizen of The Gambia being of eighteen years or older and of sound mind shall have the right to vote for the purpose of elections of a President and members of the National Assembly, and shall be entitled to be registered as a voter in a National Assembly constituency for that purpose.”
It is the duty of the IEC to register all Gambian citizens at home and abroad who are qualified to be registered. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2021 : 20:02:02
|
==========
https://standard.gm/no-money-yet-for-diaspora-voting-finance-minister/
==========
By Tabora Bojang on April 27, 2021
The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs has said the participation of Gambians in the diaspora in the upcoming elections will require a supplementary appropriation because as it stands, “diaspora voting is not budgeted in the 2021estimates.
“In fact, such supplementary appropriation will be subjected to borrowing because right now, we don’t have the funds,” Mambury Njie said as he presented a position paper before the National Assembly joint committees on human rights, constitutional matters and local government tasked to engage stakeholders on the Elections Bill.
He disclosed that his ministry has already disbursed over D120 million to the Independent Electoral Commission to cover the election operations.
“Section 14 of the Elections Bill, which is the registration of Gambians living abroad, might also have budgetary implications. This section not only deals with the registration of Gambians abroad but it is also availing them with the opportunity to vote in the elections. However, if the authorities want to proceed with this and it is not factored in the IEC budget, then we will have to consider a supplementary appropriation,” minister Njie told deputies.
Tax waiver for political parties, candidates
Commenting on Section 87 of the Elections Bill which calls for tax waivers on customs duties for candidates or political parties in respect of importation of election materials subject to the presentation of a certificate of authorization issued by the IEC, the minister in his submission described these sections as “ambiguous” and “run contrary to the Customs Act” which gives powers to the ministry to grant duty waivers.
“Hence, this section of the Elections Bill will contradict the Public Finance Act and it could be subject to abuse because the definition of election campaign material is quite broad,” Mambury Njie said.
The Finance Minister also stated that tax waiver for parties and presidential candidates is “not in line with government’s ongoing reforms to streamline and harmonise tax waivers. We are losing about 5 percent of our GDP due to these waivers and that is a lot of money,” the minister told lawmakers.
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2021 : 20:38:54
|
RELATED Link:
https://dailynewsgm.com/was-it-a-deliberate-act-to-disfranchised-citizen-living-abroad/
==========
https://www.chronicle.gm/government-did-not-cater-for-gambian-diaspora-to-vote/
==========
By Musa Keita on Apr 27, 2021
The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Mamburry Njie, has announced to Gambian members of parliament that the government did not cater for any budget to sustain the cost of the diaspora Gambians participation in the coming elections.
“The participation of Gambians in the diaspora in the upcoming elections will require a supplementary appropriation because, as it stands, diaspora voting is not budgeted in the 2021 estimates“, Mamburry Njie said on Monday.
In the 2021 budget, the National Assembly appropriated D 122,824,195 for the Presidential elections, part of which D18,245,000 is catered for travel and D66,444,500 for allowances. Meanwhile the parliament appropriated also D 165,164,100 for voter registration, D22,750,000 for travel and D45,140,600 for allowances.
Yet, Mamburry Njie said nothing in that budget for the coming elections, took into account the need to ensure Gambians in the diaspora can vote in the coming elections. Presenting a gloomy picture, the Gambian, the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, said even if the Gambia government was to cater for the Gambian diaspora to vote, there is no money for such an activity.
“In fact, such supplementary appropriation will be subjected to borrowing because right now, we don’t have the funds,” Mambury Njie said as he presented a position paper before the National Assembly joint committees on human rights, constitutional matters, and local government tasked to engage stakeholders on the Elections Bill.
With Cherno Njie, Bakary Bunja Dabo, and Sidi Sanneh, Coach Pa Sadaga Jaw is a Gambian activist living in America who recently obtained from the Supreme Court that Gambians in the Diaspora have the right to vote and be voted for. Coach Pa Samba Jaw, as is fondly called, did not believe Mamburry Njie’s explanations before the National Assembly. In his Facebook feed, Coach Samba Jaw said the “Finance Minister’s claim today, at the National Assembly, that Diaspora voting is not budgeted for is misleading and at best a ploy to force another Supplementary Appropriation Bill on the National Assembly.”
Therefore, the Gambian activist asked, “Why should the IEC need D22 Million for travels if all the travels were local? If the Diaspora vote was not budgeted for, why did the IEC have us in the initial schedule for voter registration?”
To add to his doubts, Pa Samba Jaw recalled that Gambia’s international partners are ready to help in financing the elections project. And the Gambian activist concludes that the government of the Gambia must never abrogate the constitutional rights of Gambians based on the excuse of lack of funds. “The right to vote is sacrosanct in a democracy and must not be compromised,” Pa samba Jow said. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
Edited by - toubab1020 on 27 Apr 2021 20:43:50 |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2021 : 10:33:46
|
=========
https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/headlines/diaspora-challenges-govt-iec-over-d40m-travel-budget
=========
Diaspora challenges gov’t, IEC over D40M travel budget
The Point: Apr 27, 2021, 1:23
By: Sanna Camara
Gambia Diaspora activist said minister of Finance's claim to the National Assembly is misleading and at best a ploy to force another Supplementary Appropriation Bill on the National Assembly.
Coach Pa Samba Jow, who was immediate past President of the Democratic Union of Gambia Activists (DUGA), said IEC has ready been allocated D22 million for travels in 2021.
The minister of Finance yesterday told the National Assembly that the diaspora voting in the coming general elections might have some budgetary implications since it’s not budgeted for by the IEC.
However, Mr. Samba argued that in the 2021 approved budget, the National Assembly appropriated D165,164,100 for voter registration, and of that amount D22,750,000 is allocated for travels and another D45,140,600 for allowances.
“For the Presidential elections,” he added, “D122,824,195 is allocated, with D18,245,000 going to travels and D66,444,500 for allowances.”
"Why should the IEC need D22 million for travels if all the travels were local? If the Diaspora vote was not budgeted for, why did the IEC have us (Diaspora) in the initial schedule for voter registration?" he further quizzed.
Meanwhile, the Elections Bill 2021 which was tabled before the National Assembly was carried out on the basis of the Elections Act 1996.
Under Section 14 of the Bill, it talks about “Registration of Gambians Living Abroad”.
According to the Minister of Finance, the diaspora voting wasn’t budgeted in the 2021 budget of the independent electoral commission (IEC).
“The section is not only dealing with registration of Gambians living abroad, but also availing them the opportunity to vote as diasporas,” he told the Assembly, arguing that if the authorities want to proceed with this, and it is not already factored on the IEC budget, then it will be considered as an SAP item provided a detailed cost breakdown is provided by the IEC.
Yet, Mr. Samba challenged the minister to clarify questions surrounding those votes for the IEC and their spending. "Why should the IEC need D22 million for travels if the travels were all local?” he asked. In addition to that, another D18Million has also been budgeted for travels in the 2021 Presidential elections.
The Gambia Diaspora is considered the country’s eighth region as estimated 200,000 eligible voters are living outside the country. Economically, they contribute over 30 percent of the country’s GDP.
However, they have always been disenfranchised by both the electoral systems put in place by successive governments since independence. The Gambia Diaspora has never voted in Gambia elections.
“The IEC did nothing about diaspora voting for the four years they had after the 2016-2017 election cycle. All year round, they just lick their pay checks and go home. Sometimes you go to their office and find nothing going on. This is a deliberate act to re-disenfranchise us again,” said an irate Diaspora Gambian.
“Additionally, we all know that our international partners are ready to help in financing this project. Finally, the constitutional rights of Gambians must never be abrogated based on lack of funds. The right to vote is sacrosanct in a democracy and must not be compromised,” he maintained.
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2021 : 14:30:28
|
=========
https://foroyaa.net/janjanbureh-backs-gambians-in-diaspora-to-participate-in-forthcoming-elections/
=========
By: Kebba AF Touray on May 3, 2021
The community of Janjanbureh has told lawmakers that the Gambians in the diaspora should be allowed to participate in the forthcoming presidential elections.
They made this disclosure on Wednesday 28th April 2021, during an interface with the parliamentary joint committee on Human Rights and Constitutional Matters and IEC.
“They are Gambians and should be allowed to participate in the forthcoming election regardless of their destinations,” he said.
On whether the IEC should be given the right to receive donations or grants, the community said the operations of the IEC should be fully resourced by the government. They said when IEC is allowed to receive donations or grants, the donor may have an influence or dictate the commission in the performance of its duties.
However, the community made contradicting views on the mode of attestation for voter’s card applicants. While some said that such attestation should be made by the Seyfo, others are of the opinion that the attestation should be made by the Seyfo and be assisted by five elders of the community.
On the issuance of the list of the registered voters to the registered political parties, some said the list should be provided to the parties free of charge and others said it should be paid for by the parties.
On the D500, 000 deposit for a presidential candidate, the community varied in opinion too. While some said the amount should be maintained, others said it should be increased to D1 million so that the IEC could generate funds to fully finance its operations.
On whether election should be postponed if an independent candidate dies a day before the elections and on the day of an election, the responds varied. Some said the election should be postponed if an independent candidate dies a day before the election or on the Election Day. Others said it shouldn’t be postponed due to the demise of an independent candidate.
They recommended that election polls open at 7:00am and close at 6:00pm in the evening. They also said the IEC Chairman should be mandated to announce election results and in his/her absence, the Vice Chairman can do it. They said the transfer of registration should be made free of charge.
The tour continues to URR South on Thursday 29th April 2021. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11512 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2021 : 16:15:44
|
IEC Will Not Conduct Diaspora Voter Registration
Foroyaa: June 1, 2021
By Nelson Manneh
https://foroyaa.net/iec-will-not-conduct-diaspora-voter-registration/
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has on Friday 28th May 2021 informed the media that based on the existing laws, diaspora general registration of voters will not be conducted.
The 1997 constitution and the election laws did not cater for the diaspora to participate in the Gambian election process. General registration of voters is the issuing of voters’ cards to all qualified Gambians to be able to vote at elections. The process is to replace all existing voters’ cards and issue all qualified Gambians new voters’ cards at their place of birth or residence.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Sambujang Njie, said individuals who are serving a sentence of imprisonment, a person adjudged to be of unsound mind or detained as a criminal lunatic under any law and any one disqualified under the Elections Act or under any other law is disqualified.
“The general registration of voters commenced on the 29th May 2021 and ends 11th July 2021. Every day, voter registration will be conducted from 8am to 5pm. Not all registration centers are opened at once but the registration centers will be moving based on schedules,” said Njie.
The IEC Chief Election Officer said voter registration will be conducted only at registration centers and all registration centers are located at public places determined by the IEC in consultation with villager/settlement heads and usually at “bantabas” (community centers). As the world is battling with the coronavirus pandemic, the IEC has called on Gambians to wear facemasks when going to the registration centers, accept the application of hand sanitizers, observe the 1.5-meter social distance, and not to gather around registration centers |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12237 Posts |
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Disinfranchisement of Gambians living abroad ?
