By Mammy Saidykhan
Tourism Minister Hamat Bah has lashed out at the Gambia Bar Association over recent remarks the legal practitioners’ group made against President Barrow Youths for National Development.
Gambia Bar Association president Rachael Mendy at the weekend said the movement was set up to drive one person’s agenda, President Barrow.
Mr Bah, speaking at a press conference held by his National Reconciliation Party on Tuesday, wondered why an association that is formed to defend the constitution was engaging in self-contradiction.
Bah said: “Disappointingly enough we heard from the President of the Bar Association on Sunday raising about the creation of youth movements in the country, knowing fully well [what] the constitution spelled out in chapter 4, Section 25.
“We bring the following questions to the Bar association, are they neglecting their responsibilities as provided in the constitution that as a body they are expected to defend and protect the provisions of the supreme law of the land as judiciary officers…?
“Are they neglecting that responsibility and now being partisan for the simple reason that a political party or a member of a political party has raised concerns about the Barrow Youth Movement?
“We want answers from the Bar association. We are concerned as citizens of this country, to tell the Gambian people if they are partisan, if they now decided to be a part of the political divide. We need to know.”
