Coutesy of the Point newspaper @  http://www.thepoint.gm/headlines746.htm


Jammeh Empowered to Dissolve National Assembly at Will
Monday 24th April 2006

By Abba A S Gibba

A president in The Gambia can now dissolve the National Assembly 
"anytime he or she deems it necessary".

This was made possible after members of the National Assembly approved 
on Thursday the proposed amendment to section 96 of the Constitution of 
The Gambia.

"The amendment to section 96 of the constitution is that notwithstanding 
the provision of subsection (1), the President may, in the public 
interest, declare that a general election of all members of the National 
Assembly shall be held on such date as he or she shall determine," the 
Secretary of State for Justice, Sheikh Tijan Hydara, said at the 
National Assembly.

The proposed amendment to Section 96 of the Constitution states: 
"Notwithstanding the provision of Subsection (1), the President may, in 
the public interest, declare by order published in the Gazette, that a 
general election of all members of the National Assembly shall be held 
on such date as he or she shall determine.

Secy Hydara said there is however a clause in the proposed amendment 
that states that "the President shall not exercise his or her power 
under this subsection if the time for a general election of all the 
members of the National Assembly under subsection (1) is less than 
eighteen months."

In moving the motion, Hon. Hydara said the amendment is in the public 
interest of the nation.

"It is only in the public interest of The Gambia that established 
institutions of government should be overhauled to give it a new 
momentum, a new sense of direction, a new lease of life, or to 
re-position it to meet other greater challenges, he added.

However, when the motion was moved for the approval of the amendment, it 
provoked a bitter argument between the political divide in the National 
Assembly.

It was nonetheless put to a vote and the results were as follows: the 
yes vote was 29, the no vote was 3, the absentees were 17, and 1 person 
abstained.


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