Gassa
Thanks for forwarding this information. I do have some
reservations; can you clarify;
Firstly, I wonder how the Local Government Election
can take place when the National Assembly has still
not passed the Local Government Act as stipulated by
the 1997 Constitution. In fact, Bishop Solomon Johnson
lost his job as IEC Chairman for taking up legal
action against the Attorney General.
Secondly, there have been so many boundary changes
since 1991,(The Last time the Gambia had Local
Government Elections) I wonder how we can have a free
and fair election in the forthcoming Local Government
Election. Banjul remains to benefit from its 9 wards
plus a post for the Mayor. Giving the fact, there has
been a high rate of migration to the KMC area, I
wonder whether Banjul should still benefit from
having 9 wards/seats.
Thirdly, IEC would have done itself some credit if it
resolves the controversy surrounding the Registration
and Transfer of Voters. Remember that UDP boycotted
the last National Assembly Elections after receiving
information about illegal transfers. Since Local
Government Elections entails the voting for a certain
individual for a certain ward as compared to
constituency, then surely, it is pertinent that they
resolve the issue raised by UDP.
Fourthly, we are yet to see the contents of the Local
Government Bill. Remember that under the First
Republic, the adminstration of Local Government
through the respective councils was a mere rubber
stamp institution. Will APRC do us some favour by
giving them more AUTONOMY to formulate policies at
Local Government Level.
Fifthly, what will be the position of the Secretary of
State for Local Government? Will he/she still have the
power to nominate party sympathisers as Councillors.
Perhaps, you can assist me with my concerns
Have a wonderful day.
Sanusi Owens
--- Jungle Sunrise <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
<HR>
<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<P>Culled from The Gambia Daily Observer.</P>
<P align=center><B><FONT size=5>By-election, Local
Government election dates announced </FONT></B></P>
<P align=left>The chairman of the Independent
Electoral Commission, Gabriel John Roberts, yesterday
announced two dates for the impending by-election in
Kombo North and the long overdue local government
elections throughout the country. Thursday, March 28,
2002 is the date chosen for the Kombo North
by-election while the local government elections are
set aside for Thursday, April 25, 2002. The official
campaign period for the by-election starts from
Friday, March 15 to Tuesday March 26, 2002 while the
Local Government election campaign period lasts from
Monday, April 8 to Tuesday April 23, 2002. A day at
least before both election dates, according to IEC
official reports, would be "no political activity"
day.</P>
<P align=left>Extending condolences to the family of
Fabakary Cham, the late representative for Kombo
North, the IEC chairman said they were allowing “the
customary 40 days of mourning to be observed before
allowing political activity to commence." To keep with
the election laws, however, said the chairman,
compelled them to make formal announcement for the
election within the required period. The Local
Government elections, Mr Roberts said, had been
pending for long because the IEC was waiting for the
National Assembly to pass a legislation that would
regulate the operations of the local authorities. </P>
<P align=left>The tardy pace, at which the bill was
progressing, however, resulted in the commission
taking the issue of the local government elections to
the Supreme Court for intervention,” he said. The IEC
had also held meetings with the authorities of the
present local government establishments across the
country to get a final picture of the boundaries of
wards within the respective areas. A notice, he said
had been with the local media institutions, inviting
parties interested in contesting the election to
collect nomination papers from the IEC in Brikama for
the by-election in Kombo North. </P>
<DIV><FONT color=#3333ff face="Courier New, Courier,
Monospace" size=4>There is a time in the life of every
problem when it is big enough to see, yet small enough
to solve. -Mike- Levitt-</FONT></DIV>
<DIV></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr>Chat with friends
online, try MSN Messenger: <a
href='http://g.msn.com/1HM100901/o'>Click
Here</a><br></html>
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