Inside the National Assembly Building In Banjul
By Ramatoulie Jawo
On Monday, members of the National Assembly engaged in a heated discussion regarding a motion introduced by Hon. Sainey Jawara. The motion proposes the establishment of a Parliamentary Inquiry into a petroleum shipment totaling 36,953.614 metric tons, valued at $30,000,000.
The debate followed Hon. Jawara’s presentation of the motion, which was put forth for consideration and adoption by his colleagues.
During the discussion, Hon. Almameh Gibba, representing Foni Kansala, criticized the management of the petroleum shipment as a serious threat to the country’s financial security. He highlighted that the $30 million involved is equivalent to over D2 billion and called for the formation of a joint committee to address the issue.
Hon. Gibba emphasized the need to dismantle existing cartels and ensure accountability. He stressed the importance of not allowing the country to be exploited, citing concerns about significant withdrawals and potential misuse of funds.
“We need not waste time on this. We need to break the cycle of cartels in this country. We have them, and now I know some of them. When this is put here, they will be showing frown faces, but we care less
“I thank the Honorable Member for unearthing these cartels. We need to know the cartels, identify them, expose them, and they should go behind bars,”he stressed.
He stressed that it’s impossible to exploit The Gambia without contributing appropriately, such as paying taxes or fulfilling other responsibilities. He pointed out that the report reveals numerous withdrawals, suggesting that the situation in the country is being treated like a game.
Hon. Alfusianey Ceesay, the National Assembly Member for Sami, has described the issue as a corrupt act, stressing the need for a parliamentary inquiry. He emphasized that the significant amount of money involved underscores the urgency of addressing the problem.
Hon. Madi MK. Ceesay, the National Assembly Member for Serrekunda West, underscored the motion’s significance, noting that it pertains to a substantial revenue loss for the state, which is in dire need of the $30 million in question.
“There is also an alleged tax evasion that is also costing this country dearly, and as a result, with the government of the Gambia, if we really set up this committee and do the job as expected, we are going to sanitize the government, sanitize the government in the sense that the bad elements will be identified, and they will face the consequences of the law,”he said.
Hon. Ceesay emphasized that Parliament must ensure that the state does not lose even a single butut of its resources. He proposed amending the motion to establish a Special Committee instead of referring it to the Joint Committee of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) and the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC).
“I am saying this simply because in the 5th Legislation, a similar parliamentary inquiry was given to the Public Accounts Committee, and they woefully failed on Simplex, they never delivered. So I will suggest that we have a special committee as we did in other cases instead of the two committees,” Hon. Ceesay said.
Hon. Alhagie Mbowe, the Member for Upper Saloum Constituency, emphasized the importance of the committee investigating the allegations they have received concerning petroleum products valued at $30 million.
“Hon. Speaker, if you look at the motion, and the report that is before us as well, one can easily say there is an issue of economic crisis, it’s a potential loss of revenue to the government and a potential act of Money laundering. One can easily say there is an issue dealing with economic crime, and there might be issues dealing with the Gambia Anti-Corruption Act 2023, as well as a breach of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act, as well as an issue dealing with the Banking Act of 2009,” Hon. Mbowe said.
Hon. Suwaibou Touray, National Member for Wuli East Constituency, expressed concern over any individual who may have conspired to commit, attempted, or committed an offense under the Anti-Corruption Act. He noted that the report they received reveals issues such as kickbacks, gifts, and unlicensed trading, all of which violate the Gambia’s Anti-Corruption Act of 2023.
He emphasized that these issues are troubling and that immediate investigation and action are needed to prevent their recurrence.
Hon. Muhammed Kanteh, Member for Busumbala, stated that the motion focuses on accountability and transparency to ensure that the country’s limited resources are fairly distributed for the benefit of its citizens. He also expressed gratitude to the Honorable Member for presenting this important motion.
The Member for Upper Fulladou West echoed concerns about the ongoing issues in the country, asserting that it is no longer acceptable to continue business as usual. He pointed out the presence of numerous cartels and stressed the urgent need for decisive action to address these detrimental practices.
“I am dumbfounded and speechless to know that this kind of thing is happening in our country, as highlighted by my fellow members. We have to do the needful because there are a lot of cartels in this country, and this inquiry committee will expose them one after the other. This is a cycle, and a lot of people are involved,” he said.
Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana, the Nominated Member, stated that the motion includes various allegations. It has been established that 36,914 metric tons of petroleum arrived in the county, and he was informed that no taxes were paid on the proceeds from these petroleum products.
“This is important because we must have accountability, as the motion indicates that the Gambia is a tax-based economy, and indeed, if the joint committee is established, at the end of the day, whatever tax obligation that those involved in it owe the country will be paid,” he said.
Hon. Sainey Jawara, the member for Lower Saloum and mover of the motion, addressed concerns raised by his colleagues, emphasizing that the motion is not his alone but belongs to the entire parliament.
Hon. Jawara explained that the purpose of the motion is to combat corrupt practices in The Gambia and to support the government in generating revenue for national development.
The motion was adopted and referred to the Joint Committee on Finance and Public Accounts (FPAC) and the Public Enterprise Committee (PEC). They are tasked with conducting the necessary investigations and reporting their findings back to the plenary within 90 days.