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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Mar 2013 : 20:19:22
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1. Related topics:
Daily Observer News: Published on Tuesday February 12, 2013
2. ‘D19M budgeted for 2013 Local Government Election’
3. NCCE SENSITIZES ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
Foroyaa Burning Issue News: Published on Wednesday March 20, 2013
Wriiten by: Mustapha Jallow
"The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), in the exercise of its Constitutional mandate to engage in civic education, has been visiting communities around the country a sensitization campaign on the forthcoming Local Government elections. The campaign recently took the NCCE Civic Education Team to meet with the electorate in the village Kaiaf in the Kiang East District of Lower River Region (LRR).
In his opening remark, Mr. Junkung K. Saidy, NCCE Civil Education Officer (CEO), told the people of Kaiaf to come out in their large numbers to vote for their representatives in pursuance of Section 193 of the Second Republic Constitution of The Gambia which, he said, states that “the Local Government administration in the Gambia shall be based on a system of democratically elected councils with a high degree of local autonomy.”
He said Section (214) (3) of the Constitution went further to state that “the state shall be guided by the principles of decentralization and devolution of government functions and powers to the people at appropriate levels of control to facilitate democratic government.”
He said in April 2002, the National Assembly passed the Local Government Act whose objective is to establish and regulate a decentralize local government system in the Gambia and to makes provisions for the functions, duties and powers of local authorities.
He informed them that this year’s election is slated by the IEC for the 4th April 2013. “The local government election which is held every four (4) years provides that there shall be at least 12 months between any local government election and National Assembly elections by virtue of section 9 of the constitution,” said Mr. Saidy.
He further explained to the audience the steps to be taken in instances such as the dissolution of Council which is provided for in section 9A (1) as “A local government council shall be dissolved ninety (90) days before a local government election”.
He explained how the president is empowered to appoint an interim management team for each local government area to perform the functions an exercise the powers of a council until the day preceding the first meeting of a council after a local government election.
He said the councils are composed of a Chairperson or Mayor, a member from each ward elected by the ward, Seyfo/Alkalo representative as the case may, youth nominated to represent the youths of the area, a woman nominated to represent women’s group in the Area whenever more than two thirds of elected members are male and nominated members representing local commercial and social interest groups.
The NCCE Civic Education Officer said the Act states that the total number of nominated members must not be more than one third of the elected members of a council and that the nominated members shall be proposed by the civil organization or interest groups they represent, and appointed by the chairperson with the concurrence of the minister; that a councillor shall be in office for a term of five years and is eligible for re-election for not more than three times and a person shall cease to be a member of council for the following reasons
a) Upon his/her demise,
b) Upon resignation,
c) Upon revocation of his/her mandate by electorates,
d) Upon ill health (mental/physical,
e) When sentenced to death a imprisoned for offences related to fraud, dishonesty, violence,
f) Upon disqualification form practicing his/her profession due to fraud, dishonesty or malpractice (for professionals only),
g) if she/he is removed due to abuse of office, misconduct or Compton, and
h) if she/he is absent from three consecutive ordinary meeting without the permission of the chairperson/mayor(ess).
Mr. Saidy told the audience that citizens including the people of Kiang should be paying their taxes as it is these funds that are ploughed back to the communities in the form of development. “Days of direct democracy are no more, when citizens engage directly in decision making and government, because of the alarming rate of population increase, hence the indirect democracy i.e. governance through representatives,” he said.
He said the only way the aspirations and needs and grievances and problems of inhabitants of communities can be met and addressed are for them to be made known through their various representatives such as councillors whose duty is to implement and enforce the will of his people.
“The Constitution is the highest law of the land and which states in Section (92) that “the electorates have power to recall any councillor who they feel is not working in line with their interest,” said the NCCE official.
He further urged the electorate “to vote for the competent people who are partners to development and not to vote on the basis on nepotism, friendship or familiarity.”
The NCCE Civic Education Officer said Section 90 of the local government act entails the role of councillors which are as follows;
(a) every council shall be the planning authority for its area, and may plan and implement any programme or project for the general enlistment of the community.
(b) Prepare a comprehensive an uninterrupted development plan for is area
(c) Incorporate all wards’ plan: co-ordinate all donor support and approve all projects agreement.
He said it is the councillor’s role to ensure that citizens benefit from the taxes they pay through provision of basic social amenities to them by the Area Council, adding that the towns rely on the Area Council to provide basic services such as water, markets, feeder roads, milling machines, support for the education of children through scholarship, environmental sanitation etc. “The fact that the provisions of all these can quickly be provided by council make the election as important as any other election,” he reminded the audience.
He said “One pivotal democratic activity is the exercise of one’s franchise as it is another way of bringing ones will into force indirectly. Every citizen has the equal right to vote and elections allow one to express his/he political will. It is an inalienable right and responsibility of every citizen to take an active role in democracy by voting.
However participation must not be for its sake but it must be based on knowledge and critical thinking for it to be meaningful and which was the main reason why the NCCE had decided to embark on such sensitisation programmes.
Election needs critical thinking before a choice is made because in casting your vote you are deciding who represents you in your ward and decides you fate in the local council.”
On the voting requirements, Mr. Saidy said it requires one to be a Gambian citizen of at least 18 year of age, a registered voter who has a valid voter’s card.
He explained how the IEC is ordered by Section 85(1) of the Election Decree to publish in the gazette, determine and declare the period after nominations and when campaigning by candidates and political parties may begin and end, adding that the commission shall during the election campaign periods ensure that equal air time is given to each candidate.
He said during campaign periods all are urged to Respect other candidates, Address issues instead of attacking personalities, Use civil instead of abusive language and Behave in an orderly manner at any public meetings rallies and procession, adding that all are urged to retain from Threats, intimidation violence, Bribery and buying votes, Disrupting the public meetings, rallies and procession of other parties, Destroying the posters and other publicity materials of the opponent and the Use of abortive or inflammatory language.
“Freedom of expression is important for meaningful an democracies in any election. The virtue of democracy is tolerance. Everybody is free to express his/her choice and opinion during the campaign without fear people should tolerate each other during and after the elections and when one party wins, all should come together as a ward towards the development of the country. There is no loser in an election as the verdict of the majority should be respected,” concluded Mr. Saidy.
Madam Fatou Sey of the Women’s Bureau, oriented her address on the women of Kiang in particular and the Gambia in general. She said women should be empowered and that the only way that the hardships experienced by women can be addressed is for them to elect competent women who understand their plight as councilor. Madam Sey said women are tired of clapping for men and that it is high time now that they joined hands and work side by side with men in development of the nation.
From Kaiaf, the Civic Education Team proceeded to Jomar, Jirrof and Wunkang to continue with the sensitization of the voters on the forthcoming Local Government elections."
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Edited by - kobo on 20 Mar 2013 20:33:04 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2013 : 21:24:26
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NCCE, Women's Bureau sensitise electorate on the Local Government Election
Daily Observer News: Published on Monnesday March 18, 2013
Author: Alieu Ceesay, Just back from CRR
"The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) in partnership with the Women's Bureau has embarked on a nationwide tour to sensitise the electorate on the forthcoming Local Government Election.
The 10-day tour funded by UNDP is meant to sensitise the electorate on the importance of the election, the Local Government Act, as well as encourage the active participation and full involvement of women in politics.
Speaking at the meetings held at Fulla Bantang, Patcharr, Kerewan Samba Sirreh, Fass Abdou, Jafaye Koto, Kerewan Touray, Bati Njol, and Jarreng villages, all in Central River Region south, Kebba Jobe, civic education officer at NCCE who is also the head of the team, quoted Section 26 of the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia that guarantees the political rights of every citizen of The Gambia of full age and capacity to have such rights without unreasonable restrictions: to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives; to vote and stand for elections at genuine periodic elections for public office, which elections shall be universal adult suffrage and be held by secret ballot.
He informs that Section 193 of the Constitution stipulates that the local government administration in The Gambia shall be based on a system of democratically elected councils with a high degree of local autonomy, adding that Section (214) (3) of the Constitution states that, the State shall be guided by the principles of decentralisation and devolution of government functions and power to the people are appropriate levels of control to facilitate democratic government.
Jobe further stated: "In April 2002, the National Assembly passed the Local Government Act. The objective of the Act is to establish and regulate a decentralised local government system for The Gambia: to make provisions for the functions, powers and duties of local authorities"
He told the electorate that Local Government Elections shall be held every four years provided that there shall be at least 12 months between any Local Government Election and National Assembly Election. He said local government councils shall be dissolved ninety days before the local government election, where the president shall appoint an interim management committee for each local government area to perform the functions and exercise the powers of a council until the day preceding the first meeting of the Council after a Local Government Election is held.
The composition of Councils, the NCCE civic education officer told the locals are; Chairperson or Mayor, a member from each ward elected by the ward, Seyfo or Alkalo’s representative as the case may, a youth nominated to represent the youth of the area, a woman nominated to represent women's group in the area whenever more than two-thirds of elected members are male; and nominated members representing local, commercial and social interest groups.
According to him, a person is qualified to be elected or nominated as a member of Council if he or she is a citizen of The Gambia and is not less than 21 years of age, is a registered voter, is able to speak the English Language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to enable him or her to take part in the proceedings of the Council, has made a declaration of his or her assets, and has paid all his or her taxes and rates or made satisfactory arrangements to pay and has been issued with a tax clearance certificate to that effect.
On who is disqualified to contest, Jobe informed the gatherings that one is not qualified to contest if he or she is of unsound mind, sentenced to death/imprisoned for fraud, and convicted of an offence relating to elections, is a member of a disciplined force, is a member of the National Assembly, and a District Seyfo or an alkalo,among others. He added that a councilor shall serve for a term of four years and is eligible for re-election for not more than three times.
Cessation of office
A person, Jobe went on, shall cease to be in a member of the Council upon his her death, upon resignation, upon revocation of his or her mandate by the electorate, upon ill health, and when sentenced to death or imprisoned for offences related to fraud and dishonesty.
He continued: "It is the councilors role to ensure that citizens benefit from taxes they pay through provision of basic social services to them by the Area Council. Area Councils are responsible for the provision of basic services such as water, market, feeder roads, milling machines, support the education of children through scholarship, and environmental sanitation."
He reminded the electorate about the importance of voting, something he said is the most democratic activity. He added that every citizen has equal right to vote in order to express his/her political will. Jobe did not hesitate to advise the people to maintain peace before, during, and after the polls, stressing that they should always endeavour to safeguard their peaceful coexistence among their families and neighbours.
Also speaking at the different meetings, Siaka Marong, acting Monitoring and Evaluation co-ordinator at the Women's Bureau, spoke at length on the need for women to be given equal opportunity as men to participate in elections. He lamented that most of the time women are always on the sidelines only as supporters.
He told the locals that he has observed that all elections are dominated by men even though women form the larger percentage of the population. He therefore called on women to participate in the country's elections in order to raise issues affecting them that are most of the time given less consideration. "The president has appointed a woman as the vice president and women ministers but when it come to politics, women are not seen contesting," he said.
Marong also used the meeting to inform the gathering about the Women's Act 2010 that prohibit all forms of violence and discrimination against women. He said that any person who is found to have contravened any of the provisions of the Act, commits an offence and is liable, except otherwise provided in the Act, to a fine not exceeding D50, 000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both fine and imprisonment.
He added: “The Act prohibits the withdrawal of a girl child from school for marriage, discrimination against women in employment; no woman shall be denied access or control over productive and financial resources particularly rural women, no woman shall be subjected to unequal remuneration, including benefits based on her gender, and no woman shall be discriminated against due to disabilities among others.”
Lawa Drammeh, Women's Bureau programme officer in Central River Region, also stressed the need for women to be players in politics by contesting for key political positions, something she believes will help them to make their voices heard. "Women can equally participate like their male counterpart in politics but that has not been the case," she added.
For their parts, Mahamadou Dem, alkalo of Fulla Bantang village, and Musa Bayo, alkalo of Patcharr respectively, all commended the entourage for coming all the way to their villages to sensitise them on issues relating to the election, noting that the meetings have given them an insight into issues relating to the election and the Women's Act.
Other speakers included Fatou Jamanka and Gibbi Camara of Fulla Bantang who both expressed delight at the meetings, which they described as very interactive and educative.
The entourage will continue the tour today, Monday with meetings in Kerr Katim and Sambang Fula Kunda villages also in Central River Region." |
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