Constitutional review: CRC chairman dismisses rumours of empowering ‘gay rights’ through ‘right to marry’

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By ADAMA MAKASUBA

Chairman of Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) has dismissed rumors that ‘right to marry provision’ in draft constitution is empowering ‘gay rights.’

Speaking to The Monitor in the ongoing public consultation on the draft constitution, Justice Cherno Sulayman Jallow said: “We have a law under the criminal code that prohibits gay marriage, so people need to look at this in proper context and stop sensationalizing things that are not meant to be in that form.

He said the provision is clear, adding that they have replicated what is in the 1997 constitution, and it hasn’t been an issue in that constitution and we have repeated the same in the draft constitution – word for word.

“So, we don’t understand why it’s been an issue,” he asked.

He called for constructive dialogue that wouldn’t create an avenue for division among communities, adding: “I think, people need to be rational and we all need to be each other’s adviser and ensure that we worked together and ultimately we can build a constitution that we all can live with.”

He assured Gambians who think the provision reads differently, that the CRC will take another look at it.