Justice Jallow says Gambia’s draft constitution provides for presidential term limit
By SULAYMAN WAAN
Justice Chernor Sulayman Jallow, chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission has said that the draft constitution of The Gambia has presidential term limit and only mandates a president of the country to rule ten years only.
Chairman Jallow was speaking at Diabugu Batapa, Upper River Region as part of the ongoing CRC’s nationwide public consultation.
He added that if the sitting president wins the second term he or she would not contest in the subsequent presidential election.
Barrow’s coalition term counts
The legal expert further noted that the coalition term is part of President Barrow’s two terms, saying if the sitting president wins second term presidential elections then he would not contest in the subsequent elections.
“In some countries, if the president’s term is finished he will request the Parliament to amend the term limit provision to increase his or her term but this new constitution did not mandate the National Assembly to increase the president’s term by any mean,” he said.
Justice Jallow noted that the new constitution did not guarantee any dual citizen to contest for presidential election in The Gambia but said for a candidate to vie for a presidential election the person must get full fledge citizenship.
Concerning the qualification for presidency, Justice Jallow noted that for a candidate to contest in the country’s presidential election he or she must be a grade 12 graduate with twelve years working experience.
“If the person is a university graduate he or she must get five years working experience,” adding that if the candidate wins he or she shall declare assets after serving for three months in office.
End of single majority and introduction of second round of voting
Chairman Jallow further told the participants that the draft constitution states that for a candidate to handle the mantle of leadership he or she must get 50+1 per cent, adding if the leading political party in the election fails to meet the requirement, the first and second candidates will compete in second round and the victor will secure the presidency.
He said the presidential election duration will not go beyond three days while saying the new constitution states that both the presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on the same day.
No private business or organization for president
“There is a provision of the constitution that states that a president of the country will not be engage in any form of personal business and will not have any organization that would distract him from official work,” Justice Jallow said.
Speaking further he said, if the president assigns anyone to withdraw public money from any financial institution, he (the president) should produce a document to show the legality of the financial deal, he was quick to add that if government officials fail get a document from the president, he would be held accountable if any corruption is realised.
Impeachment of president
He said at some point presidents will tamper the constitution to do wrong, noting that the constitution mandated the National Assembly members to impeach the president when he does wrong.
Justice Jallow said the constitution mandated the electorate to recall their National Assembly members provided that he or she is not performing as expected in the parliament but the electorate have to follow the due process.
The CRC chairman told the crowd at the consultation meeting that there will be no elections for seyfolu (district chiefs) and alkalolu (village heads) instead they will remain in their positions for rest of their lives.
“Traditional leaders will be only sack if they abuse power,” he said.
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