Electorate debate presidential age limit at CRC public consultation

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By SULAYMAN WAAN

A cross-section of paricipants within the North Bank Region (NBR) east have called on the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) to include presidential age limit in the upcoming constitution.

The CRC had embarked on nationwide public consultation in June, 2018 so as to get the public opinion concerning the new supreme law book.

However, the CRC has published the first draft of the constitution but the presidential age limit is not indicated which raised public concern at the CRC consultation meeting held at Kerewan Badibou, NBR.

Expressing his opinion regarding the presidential age limit, Bubacarr I. Bah, resident of Talen Fula village opined that the commission should indicate sixty-five (65) years presidential age limit in the new constitution.

He said if someone is above this age he or she would be weak and find difficult to execute his or her function as expected, adding that presidency is a difficult position that needs healthy and energytic person to work well.

Adding his voice to the debate, Ousainou Saine also expressed concern over the provision that indicates that a candidate must have thirty (30) years to contest in presidential election, saying the commission should endeavor to increase it to forty years.

Giving reference to the past human rights abuses during the former government, he said when some perpetrators appeared before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) to testify they took excuse by saying they were young at the time of committing the crimes.

He noted that this is a clear manifestation that the mantle of leadership should be given to a mature person, adding the age limit of the president should be seventy five (75) years.

“If someone goes beyond that age he/she would be weak and find tedious to work as expected,” he said.

On his part, Abdoulie Darboe told the commission that he did not support the provision that state one have to get only thirty years to contest in presidential election, noting that he prefer the commission to change it to fourty years.

For Lamin Kinteh, Gambians should think critically before empowering any person to become a head of state because it’s a sensitive position that needs mature and responsible person to develop the country.

He opined that the presidential age limit should be sixty-five years and a candidate should get fourty years to contest in presidential election.

Another concerned participant Madam Hawa Hydra said thirty years old person is too young to become a president of the country.

She opined that for one to contest in presidential election he/ she should get atleast thirty- five years.
“The presidential age limit should be sixty five (65) years,” she suggested.

Responding to the participants on this issue, Commission Jenet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie said the commission failed to indicate the presidential age limit in the draft constitution because the public raised contradicting age limit during the first phase of public consultation.

“Therefore, we deem it necessary to leave that portion vacant until after the second phase of the public consultation. However, we will consider all your views should we go back,” he stated