President-elect Adama Barrow has promised Gambians that before his five-year term ends the people of Gambia will have a new constitution, which will speak to the issue of term limits.
As things stand the current Gambian constitution does not make a clear provision for term limits for the president, an autocratic legacy inherited from former President Yahya Jammeh who served as president of the small West African country for 22 years.
“I am a big fan of term limits; I am also a big fan of absolute majority. I am committed to it, and I promise we will have a new constitution and term limits will be in that constitution. You will have a new constitution before my term ends” -President Adama Barrow promised the nation.
The President was speaking at his maiden press conference, after winning the December 4th Presidential election.
He however noted that it is not entirely up to him to agree on such matters.
“These things are not entirely the president’s decision, it has processes,” he said.
He revealed that the process had started but the national assembly disagreed with the document, therefore it was suspended. But promised it will be looked into and it will be part of his legacy.
Similarly, on the issue of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) President Barrow said that it was and still is very important to him, his government and the Gambian people, but insisted that due process must be followed.
“We will look at the report and after one month we shall make it public, not more than six months later we will come up with a white paper. We don’t want to make decisions based on sentiments; we want to follow due process. Be rest assured that we shall act on it,” Barrow said.
Adding that, “It is not my singular decision, it must come to cabinet and we will have technical people with us. But we want to assure everyone that there will be justice, reparation and reconciliation, but we have to be patient as processes take time.”
