The Speaker of the National Assembly, Honourable Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, has defended as genuine, declarations of public holidays by President Jammeh, describing it as "a constitutional power vested on him by the 1997 constitution."

The Honourable Speaker's remarks came following a concern raised by Hon. Babading KK Daffeh, the UDP National Assembly Member for Kiang Central, during last Monday's adjournment debate of the third session of the Assembly.

Hon. Daffeh raised concern over what he called "too much public holidays"been declared by the head of state, alleging that it hampered the education of our children.

According to Speaker FJC, the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia clearly indicated that public holidays can only be declared by the executive and by no other person but the President. "It is only President Jammeh, therefore, who carries, according to the 1997 Constitution, executive powers under Section 76 sub-section 1, to do so.

The honourable Speaker observed that in other countries public holidays were declared more frequently on week days than on weekends, "but here in The Gambia, most of the public holidays coincide with the weekend." She therefore stressed that there was no harm to the education sector.

Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay then cautioned all members of the National Assembly that if they had to raise issues against the executive, they must be sure to have done their home work properly before coming to the National Assembly.

On the issue of teachers raising high study fees in government schools, which cannot be afforded by all, a concern raised by the same NAM for Kiang Central, FJC again brushed aside that assertion. According to her, it was already a government policy that no government teacher shall receive or demand any study fee charged on any student in any school.