Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
The Gambia’s National Assembly failed to get at least 42 National Assembly Members (NAMs) in attendance on Monday 21st February 2022 for voting to proceed on the Second Reading of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021. Last week on Thursday 17th February 2022 only 35 NAMs were in attendance which was less than the required threshold for voting to proceed. This led the Speaker to postpone the voting on the Second Reading to 21st February 2022, however, there were only 34 NAMs in attendance forcing the Speaker to rule that the Bill has been negatived [i.e., removed from the National Assembly’s Agenda].
Our research has revealed that on 17th February 2022, forty-two (42) NAMs were initially in attendance, however, seven (7) NAMs left Chambers before voting commenced on the Second Reading. In addition to this Gainako can reveal that on the penultimate day [21st February 2022] when the Speaker ruled on the Bill, thirty-nine (39) NAMs were initially in attendance. However, five (5) NAMs left Chambers before voting commenced meaning that only thirty-four (34) NAMs were present.
Seven NAMs Left Chambers on 17th February 2022
According to the speaker “there were thirty-five (35) Hon. Members present, falling short of the required threshold of forty-two (42) for voting to proceed”. Due to this, the Speaker suspended voting on the Second Reading of the Bill to Monday 21st February 2022.
To identify the NAMs who were in attendance, our reporter gained access to the National Assembly’s Order Paper for 17th February 2022. The Order Paper reveals that 42 NAMs were present in the morning during the first Agenda item when NAMs went through the correction and approval of the record of votes and proceedings of the previous National Assembly sitting [Wednesday 16th February 2022].
However, as indicated by the Speaker only thirty-five (35) NAMs were present when it was time to vote for the Second Reading of the Bill. This means that seven (7) NAMs left the Chambers after attending the first Agenda item and signing their attendance.
Five NAMs Left Chambers on 21st February 2022
After the National Assembly sitting commenced on Monday 21st February 2022, the Speaker called for the Bell to be rung for four minutes before announcing in her ruling that “the number present (i.e. 34 NAMs) is confirmed by the Table Office to be less than the requirement for voting to proceed on the Second Reading of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021”.
According to the Speaker, the “National Assembly has never encountered [a] situation where voting on a Second Reading of a Bill was hampered because of the absence of the required threshold”. In her view “the situation the Assembly is witnessing over the weeks is unusual in our procedures and proceedings”.
Our research has unearthed the National Assembly’s Order Paper for 21st February 2022 [not online at the time of publication] showing that thirty-nine (39) NAMs were in attendance, however, at the time of voting only thirty-four (34) NAMs were in attendance. This means that five (5) NAMs had left the Chambers before the bell was rung for voting to commence. Our reporter observed that some NAMs were outside the Chambers when the Speaker called for the bell to be rung.
List of NAMs in Attendance including 5 that Left
Below is a list of the thirty-nine (39) NAMs who attended the first Agenda Item according to the National Assembly’s Order Paper for 21st February 2022.
The following Honourable Members were present:
- Hon. Mariam Jack Denton – Speaker
- Hon. Momodou LK Sanneh – Deputy Speaker
- Hon. Kebba K. Barrow – Majority Leader/Kombo South
- Hon. Samba Jallow – Minority Leader/Niamina Dankunku
- Hon. Sunkary Badjie – Foni Brefet
- Hon. Alhagie S. Darbo – Brikama North
- Hon. Alfusainey Ceesay – Sami
- Hon. Sainey Touray – Jarra East
- Hon. Momodou S. Ceesay – Janjanbureh
- Hon. Baba Galleh Jallow – Sanimentereng
- Hon. Ndey Yassin Secka – Nominated Member
- Hon. Assan Touray – Bakau
- Hon. Alhagie Mbow – Upper Saloum
- Hon. Amadou Camara – Nianija
- Hon. Alagie Jawara – Lower Baddibu
- Hon. Halifa Sallah – Serrekunda
- Hon. Suwaibou Touray – Wuli East
- Hon. Musa Amul Nyassi – Foni Kansala
- Hon. Ousman Sillah – Banjul North
- Hon. Majanko Samusa – Nominated Member
- Hon. Kebba Jallow – Jarra Central
- Hon. Yaya Gassama – Kiang East
- Hon. Fatoumatta Njai – Banjul South
- Hon. Muhammed Ndow – Banjul Central
- Hon. Momodou Camara – Foni Bintang Karanai
- Hon. Bakary Njie – Bundunka Kunda
- Hon. Bakary Camara – Kiang Central
- Hon. Sulayman Saho – Central Baddibu
- Hon. Alhagie Drammeh – Jeshwang
- Hon. Salifu Jawo – Jokadu
- Hon. Sidia S. Jatta – Wuli West
- Hon. Dembo KM Camara – Illiassa
- Hon. Alhagie H. Sowe – Jimara
- Hon. Alhagie Darboe – Lower Fulladu West
- Hon. Ousman Touray – Sabach Sanjal
- Hon. Abdoulie Ceesay – Old Yundum
- Hon. Fatou K. Jawara – Tallinding Kunjang
- Hon. Saikouba Jarju – Busumbala
- Hon. Kaddy Camara – Foni Bondali
There are a total of 58 NAMs and all of them are listed above and below. The NAMs who were absent with permission could be excluded from the list of NAMs who intentionally failed to attend the sitting. However, the list of 5 NAMs who attended the sitting and left Chambers before voting on the second reading are included in the list of 39 NAMs in attendance. Gainako will make additional efforts to identify them.
List Absent NAMs with Permission
According to the National Assembly’s Order Paper for 21st February 2022 below are the list of Honorable Members who were absent with permission:
- Hon. Alhagi S.B Sillah – Niani
- Hon. Billay G. Tunkara – Kantora
- Hon. Sainey Jawara – Lower Saloum
- Hon. Mahtarr M. Jeng – Lower Niumi
- Hon. Saikou Marong – Latrikunda Sabiji
- Hon. Alhaji Sankung Jammeh – Foni Jarrol
- Hon. Muhammed Mahanera – Sandu
- Hon. Lamin F.M Conta – Kombo East
- Hon. Ya Kumba Jaiteh – Nominated Member
- Hon. Lamin J. Sanneh – Brikama South
- Hon. Omar Darboe – Upper Niumi
- Hon. Muhamed Magassy – Basse
- Hon. Foday N.M Drammeh – Tumana
- Hon. Birom JS Sowe – Niamina West
- Hon. Kajali Fofana – Jarra West
- Hon. Madi MK Ceesay – Serrekunda West
- Hon. Omar Ceesay – Niamina East
- Hon. Dawda Kawsu Jawara – Upper Fulladu West
Vacancy: 58. Kiang West [Deceased]
It would be useful to understand the reasons advanced to the National Assembly for NAMs to miss such an important sitting. Many have raised the possibility that some NAMs are currently busy with party primaries to be selected for re-election by the Political Parties. Hon Fatoumatta Njai who tabled the Bill had a few words to add on NAMs failing to appear.
Watch the live stream of the National Assembly Proceedings in the link below. https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C&ref=watch_permalink&v=3044171159134253
Are NAMs too Busy Campaigning?
Responding to Journalists’ questions on her reaction to the Bill being removed by the Speaker, Hon Fatoumatta Njai for Banjul South noted that she was not disappointed because she knows “that NAMs are very busy at this point. We have elections and most of them are having their primaries this week. Am not disappointed but” our National Assembly sittings are also mandatory.
According to Hon Njai “for me to be disappointed is for me to take their responsibility from them. They should be disappointed not me, at least I have done my part. Failure is not attempting. I’ve attempted [and] it went through the first reading”.
Although the Bill was thrown out due to a lack of quorum, Hon Njai believes that the Constitution (Amendment) Bill “wouldn’t have been thrown out [if NAMs voted] because we all saw the contributions of the members, they were all positive about it. The only issue we had was we did not have the 42 members for the process to proceed. So, I shouldn’t be disappointed, I have done my part”.