Following publication on The Point  newspaper edition of Thursday 23rd April 2009, captioned 'UDP condemns Babading Daffeh's suspension', the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly has refuted categorically the allegation contained in the press release, describing it as 'false, malicious, lies, misleading, totally erroneous and unfounded'.

A news briefing was convened and a press release issued to that effect, to clarify what they described as yet another calculated move by the same rejected or failed political parties to mislead the Gambian people. The Assembly stated that the said member was not suspended as alleged in the newspaper.

According to the press release issued by the Office of the Speaker, the publication was false, malicious and misleading. It stated that there was no suspension handed to Hon. Babanding KK Daffeh as alleged in the newspaper article and that the Honourable speaker has only implored on the member to desist from using abusive languages to public officers who cannot defend themselves in the National Assembly.

The release indicated that the Honourable speaker was conscious of the fact that no member can be suspended without the question being put to the House. "The Office of the Speaker expressed with dismay that the UDP headed by a lawyer would refer to the Honourable Speaker as non-elected member clothed with the title of 'Speaker' to suspend an elected member from any sitting of the National Assembly as quoted in the second paragraph of the said publication," the release stated.

The release further clarified that section 93 (1) of the Constitution of The Gambia states that the Speaker of the National Assembly and the deputy Speaker shall be elected by members of the National Assembly from among the nominated members, and that the Speaker is vested with all the constitutional powers required for the conduct of the National Assembly.

In view of the above and contrary to the statement, the release noted that the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly was only executing her role as the chair which includes regulating the proceedings and conduct of members during sessions. It also clearly indicated that the Honourable Speaker has not handed out any suspension to Hon. Babanding KK Daffeh and that the newspaper allegation was totally erroneous, unfounded and misleading.  "In essence, if a suspension was to be handed down, a motion would have been moved upon which the Honourable Speaker would put the question for the suspension of the said member. Section 45 (4) of the Standing Orders refers," the release revealed.

The non-partisanship of the present National Assembly, the release went on, is unprecedented in the history of the Assembly and the Office of the Honourable Speaker will not succumb to the dictates of rejected politicians or failed political parties who are left with nothing but to speculate in the media. It added that the National Assembly under Hon. Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay as Speaker, will only succumb to the will of the Gambian people and not a selected few. "The government under the present leadership has prioritised education and  the Gambian public is more enlightened now than ever before and cannot be misled by unscrupulous politicians or failed political parties," the release concluded.

At a press briefing at her office, yesterday afternoon, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, reiterated that the allegation in the press release was full of lies, malicious and fabricated story. According to her, if she is to suspend anybody from the National Assembly for insulting the leadership of this country or any other public official, she will use the Standing Orders of the National Assembly and the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia.

Refering to the point in the released  UDP statement which read: 'It is even more unacceptable for a non-elected member clothed with the title of Speaker to suspend an elected member', FJC reminded the oppositon party to get back to the 1997 Constitution. According to her, the constitution, under Section 88, stated that the National Assembly shall comprise of 48 members elected from the constituencies demarcated by the boundaries' commission; five members nominated by the president. "Therefore, I am a member of the National Assembly," she ascerted.

According to her, she will never hide her political support. "I am APRC, but when I am on the chair, I am the Speaker and not APRC. That is what I have been doing," she said. She then made it clear that she will not condone  insult from anybody in the National Assembly, adding that she has the right to defend the Gambian people. She urged the UDP to get to know more about the Standing Orders of the Assembly as they do not seem to know much about it. "If they don't know  it and have a lawyer in their midst as a leader, let them read what the Standing Orders  says," she urged.

According to FJC, all what she has done that day was constitutional. Reiterating her support for the APRC, she said: "whether they like it or not, I am APRC and I will be APRC until I die. I will support President Jammeh until I die. If people say I am a sycophant or call me a griot of President Jammeh, let it be. I am happy to be his griot. Other countries in the world are crying to have a leader like President Jammeh," she put it to the UDP.

She then clearly indicated that as Speaker of the National Assembly, she will never accept insults in the National Assembly and quickly noted that she will rule the Assembly with fairness and will treat all members equally. "If I were showing my colours as APRC, none of them would enjoy. In addition to an official vehicle, the Minority leader gets D3000 worth of fuel, every month. The UDP leadership and its membership did not say anything about that. They never commended me. The president even travels with the Minority leader on official visits, the first of its kind in this country and the UDP do not say anything about that either. But if somebody misbehaves in the National Assembly and I, guided by the Constitution and the Standing Orders addresses the issue, they start talking," she said.

She then firmly warned all political parties that they cannot continue sitting outside and control the National Assembly. "No body from outside will control this Assembly. Even the executive is not controlling us. Then who are the UDP to try to control us". She also urged the UDP to ask their member concerned whether he was suspended. "There has never been any suspension in the first place," she said, maintaining that under her dispensation, no body will use the platform of the National Assembly to castigate, caricature, insult or levy false allegations against the executive or any other public  figure or civil servant in this country.

Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Majority leader and NAM for Serrekunda East, said he is convinced that the statement by the UDP is not an honest opinion geared towards informing Gambians honestly and sincerely. He described it as a premeditated and politicised article. He also condemned the statement describing the Speaker as a non-elected member, quoting Section 93(1) of the 1997 constitution which states the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly shall be elected from amongst the nominated members. He said this is a constitutional provision. "UDP cannot expect an elected representative to be a Speaker. That will be violation of the law.

These among other statements made in the press release shows that everything has been politicised with a view to making some political gains. But those days are gone when such politicians will fool people for political gains. Unless there is a constitutional amendment, the Speaker of the National Assembly will be a nominated member elected by members and will always have all the powers for the administration of sessions in the National Assembly," he said. Hon. Mama Kandeh, NAM for Jimara and Hon. Tina Faal, nominated member, both condemned the UDP allegation and urged Gambians to unite for development.