By Njie Khakatarr
Regrettably, in his clownish shows of political bravado, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has jettisoned two landmark Bills that Gambians were long awaiting for. Minutes before the Telecommunications and Assets Management & Recovery Bills were due for amendment, a strongly worded presidential memo from State House grounded matters to a halt. Our special correspondent Njie Khakatarr was at the ill-fated National Assembly from where he dispatches this report.
Gambian legislators were dazed on Tuesday when Speaker Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay on a sweltering September afternoon on the commencement of the Second day sitting of the 2007 Second Legislative Session announced the receipt of a letter from the President’s office requesting the immediate withdrawal of the Telecommunications and Asset Management & Recovery Corporation (AMRC) Bills. Within the strike of a pen, the rubber–stamp National Assembly had quashed the long awaited Telecommunications Bill, as well as the AMRC Bill shortly before they were due for amendment.
Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay gave no reasons for the withdrawal; neither did any member of the National Assembly enquire the reasons why? From the gallery, concerned citizens as well as journalists continued to murmur with disbelief, the belated withdrawal sanctioned by President Yahya Jammeh. The unexplained withdrawal of these two highly important and politically sensitive Bills cast doubts on the minds of many onlookers most of whom were eager to know what the Telecommunications Amendment Bill contained.
Telecommunications has recorded interesting developments in recent years in The Gambia, covering various aspects of modern Communication Technology development. The Gambia has in the past played pivotal roles in the international telecommunication arena. One of the major developments recorded was the establishment of a Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology superseding The Gambia Telecommunication Company (Gamtel), which was previously the main national telecommunication authority.
The Telecommunication Bill’s withdrawal shortly before it was due for amendment gives added dimension to the raging debate following Gamtel’s 50 percent sale to a foreign company last month. This latest development to Gamtel’s twisted saga will no doubt reach fever pitch in the coming days, especially given The Gambia Government’s press release announcing the sale of Gamtel in which it revealed recorded failures over the past years culminating in the corporation’s near bankruptcy. Many Gambians blame political interference and lack of a proper management system as central to Gamtel’s woes.
Few months ago, Omar Ndow, Gamtel’s Former Managing Director was fired, arrested and detained at the Serious Crimes Unit of The Gambia Police Force. He is currently facing trial in the courts.
In a related twist, The Gambia National Assembly in defence of its so-called “obedience to rules policy” fined Hon. Sidia Jatta D500 after his mobile phone rang while parliamentary debates were in progress on Tuesday evening. Speaker Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay, in what could be described as unwarranted display of political gravitas, seized the powers vested in her and ordered the Clerk of the National Assembly to put it on record. At the time of the Speaker’s interjection Hon. Netty Baldeh, National Assembly Member for Tumana Constituency was debating the Amendment of the Fisheries Bill.
Speaker Jahumpa Ceesay ordered for the D500 to be deducted from Hon. Jatta’s travel allowances and be used to buy drinks for Members of the Assembly during Wednesday’s proceedings. When handing over the floor to Hon. Jatta to comment on the debate, FJC as she is affectionately or sometimes pejoratively called, sarcastically asked Jatta if he might have been worried with the actions taken against him. Hon. Jatta true to his mature and urbane character politely replied with a gentle smile “that’s not a problem.”
In a related development, the Speaker of the National Assembly also announced at the first sitting of the Second Assembly Sessions on Monday September 3 that the Assembly has introduced NAM Identity Cards. She informed parliamentarians that arrangements were finalized and that they should report to The Gambia Ports Authority to take passport photos and have their identity cards immediately processed.
Editor's Note: We are happy to introduce Njie Khakatarr an experienced news personality with years of journalistic exposure. Khakatarr will be reporting for us from Banjul and Serekunda.