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Momodou
Denmark
11733 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Sep 2009 : 17:00:48
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Lawmakers Urged To Speak The Truth
By saikou Jammeh
Returning from the 40th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Africa region conference held in Nigeria in July, the deputy speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Abdoulie Bojang came with pieces of advice that he shared with members on Monday at the National Assembly.
According to him the four members Gambian delegation of legislators were among 12 Speakers and 200 Parliamentarians from 17 Commonwealth African countries were told by the Executive Governor of the Rivers State in Nigeria, Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi to be fearless to speak the truth as honorary representatives of their peoples.
Hon. Bojang recounted that Mr. Ameachi who was giving his official opening remark at the event further told them that parliament, which is a symbol of democracy has a potential for a practicing democratic country to be best or worst in development through the types of bills that they pass into law.
Admitting that parliament is so powerful that it can subject the executive to pressure to deliver its promises to the public interest, hon. Bojang told his fellow parliamentarians the Governor who he said was a speaker for 12 years also implored on them not to take pleasure in the misuse of their duty by passing ‘bad laws’ just to satisfy the executive.
“Parliamentarians have their guide, the constitution on one hand and their integrity to protect on the other”, he implored them while urging them not to forget that they are answerable to the people who “sacrificed their time, energy and what it takes to get you to that position”.
The Gambian Deputy Speaker quoted the Executive Governor as saying: “Legislature has a great responsibility to ensure that the lives of those governed are protected, failure or success of each government depends on the legislature and the executive”.
According to him another paper entitled: ‘Have the Principles of Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances been achieved among African Commonwealth States?’ was moved by Ghana and seconded by Uganda. He told members that the paper described separation of powers as a political doctrine under which the three basic organs of state are kept distinct, so that each arm acts as a check and balance on the other to prevent abuse of power.
The paper he said, further states that checks and balance are legal instruments to secure the integrity of elected institutions and ensure that the representation, behaviors and decision making of elected representatives are fair and equitable. However he said the paper identified lack of financial autonomy and inference of the executive in legislative matters as the two main challenges for the realisation of legislative independence.
Meanwhile, the Hon. Speaker Renner commenting on the adopted Report which attracted few discussions in the Assembly described the Report as interesting because it hold parliamentarians equally responsible as the executive for the success or failure of any government,.
Re-echoing the need for the three arms of government to serve as checks and balances, Speaker Renna implored on members to put the interest of their people first.
Source: The Daily News
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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