Hold it Madam Speaker!

This morning, I came across a story published in Foroyaa Newspaper captioned Speaker clash with Member for Sami.

In the story, Speaker Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay was reported to have gone bananas when the Member of Sami, Lamin Ceesay called for proper arrangements to be made to avoid the President turning up late at state functions.

Mr Ceesay was making reference to the late appearance of President Jammeh for the opening of the 2009 legislative year.

Speaker Ceesay's response to the honourable gentleman exposes here pettiness and partiality in her role as speaker. With due respect to my dear friend, I think Lamin Ceesay made a right observation which has nothing to do with politics. And if there is anyone playing the political card, it is the the speaker.

What Jahumpa Ceesay needs to know is that although Jammeh is the President of every Gambian as she correctly stated, yet he is not above the National Assembly as he can be remove by Members of the National Assembly.

Members of the National Assembly have a right to speak out against President Jammeh and his government during debates. The President is not above criticism and if the speaker don't want to hear him being criticise by National Assembly Members then she should quit.

Looking at the way our National Assembly is being operated, it does not surprise me that the malpractices of the Jammeh regime are going on check. Take for instance, non of the National Assembly Members have used the adjournment debate to ask the government to explain its role in the ridiculous nationwide witch hunting exercise which has claimed the lives of many Gambians.

This is a complete joke.