By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
A press release from the Gambia’s State House has highlighted that “Members of the Cabinet will be sworn in on Thursday, 27th January 2022 at the State House in Banjul”.
The press release clarified that an earlier statement from State House contained an error by rebranding Cabinet as a “Caretaker Cabinet”. The rejoinder to the first press release noted that “the Office of the President wishes to clarify that His Excellency, President Adama Barrow, has retained his immediate past Cabinet on a transitional basis pending the formation of a New Cabinet in due course”.
Media practitioners and civil society advocates were baffled by the two statements published less than 3 hours apart. According to the rejoinder “the phrase “caretaker Cabinet” is not consistent with the Constitution of The Gambia”.
“Consequently, in line with the Constitution Section 71 (1) and cap (3) Members of the Cabinet will be sworn in on Thursday, 27th January 2022 at the State House in Banjul” read the rejoinder.
CSO Advocate Queries Constitutionality of State House Statement
With such an error coming barely 24 hours after President Adama Barrow’s swearing-in the blunder exposed the President to criticism which could have been avoided. Not one to miss an opportunity to hold the government accountable, outspoken Civil Society Advocate Madi Jobarteh took to social media to vent his displeasure.
“Which part of the Constitution establishes a so-called Caretaker Cabinet?” asked Mr Jobarteh. More importantly, Mr Jobarteh asked “which section talks about swearing in such a ‘Caretaker Cabinet’? Why & when is “until further notice”? Why a ‘Caretaker Cabinet’ as if there’s a crisis? Let’s be serious!”
Erroneous Caretaker Cabinet Statement
An initial statement reproduced below contained the blunder from State House:
“The public is hereby informed that His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow has with effect from today, 20th January 2022 constituted a caretaker Cabinet until further notice. The caretaker Cabinet consists of all immediate past Cabinet Ministers who will continue to hold the same portfolio. As required by the Constitution, the caretaker Cabinet will be sworn in on Thursday, 27th January 2022 at the State House in Banjul.”
Nonetheless, both statements from State House maintain that a Cabinet will be sworn in on 27th January 2022 which is next week Thursday.