By Arfang M.S. Camara
The Minority leader and National Assembly member for Niamina Dankunku, Hon. Samba Jallow, has faulted the government of the Gambia for not issuing ID cards to citizens, adding that the issue of national ID cards is a nightmare to the Gambian citizens.
Hon. Samba Jallow was speaking on Tuesday at the National Assembly while moving the motion of sine-die adjournment debate session before parliamentarians.
He further said that the government has failed the Gambian people for not issuing them with ID card for over an year, adding that this doesn’t tell well to the Coalition Government as the issue has been lingering to the mines of Gambians for a long time now.
“To me, I think that the Coalition Government is not delivering up to the expectations of the Gambian people because these are minor issues that government can do for its citizen. It is very important for a citizen to have his/her own country’s document”. He said
He added that Gambians are moving in and out of the country without carrying valid National I.D card saying that some don’t even have one at all
“Traveling with an I.D card is not about identification alone but helps to also trace ones nationality. We have seen a lot of issues surrounding national I.D cards in the country”, adding that talks about Semlex given the contract to produce the country’s I.D cards is still not confirmed.
“There are rumors that Semlex was given that contract by the former government”. He explained.
He called on the Justice Minister who was present at the National Assembly to tell them (Parliamentarians) what is holding the production of I.D card, adding that this doesn’t tell well on the Coalition government who has been in power for over a year without producing I.D cards and passports to its citizens.
