The Gambia Bar Association has expressed disappointment over the rejection of the draft constitution, joining a cross-section of stakeholders in taking a position on the issue.
GBA in a statement on Monday said the rejection of the draft constitution ultimately deprived the Gambian people their legitimate and inalienable right to vote in a referendum to “either endorse or reject the draft Constitution”.
“We strongly believe that the Gambian people should have been given the opportunity to exercise their sovereign will by making the ultimate decision on the most important legal issue in the transition period. The premature rejection of the draft bill in our view may also potentially diminish meaningful and pro-active citizen participation in future democratic and civic processes following their overwhelming involvement in the CRC consultation stage,” GBA argued.
The group said elsewhere in its statement: “Nonetheless, the GBA strongly believes that the rejection of the draft constitution should not be the end of the constitutional building process. The GBA and the wider civil society played a crucial role in actively engaging all the relevant stakeholders up to the debate of the Bill in the NA and continue to do so. Divergent views of the draft Constitution are acknowledged and that is healthy as we seek to nurture our young democracy.
“Therefore, the GBA strongly urges all the stakeholders, both in the private and public sector, in particular Civil Society Organisations, the Executive, Political Parties and the National Assembly members to begin the discourse to build a national consensus towards reviving the process of enacting a new Constitution that will usher in a third republic.”
