Gambia News : Does the president mean his words ?

Does the President really mean what he says? Let’s follow him to Brikama where he recently inaugurated the Chief of Kombo North, Demba Sanyang, as the first paramount chief.What did he say? He did not launch an attack on democracy as a western concept as he sometimes does. No, he spoke of constitutional rule, of the rule of law. If The Point is to go by the following are quotations from his speech at the inauguration.

“I the president, and you the traditional rulers, we are all below the law.”

He is reported to have told traditional rulers that they are bound by the same constitution that empowered them, calling on them to dispense with justice in accordance with the Constitution and the Local Government Act.

He is quoted as saying “In the dispensation of justice there should be no fear or favour.”

Mr. President, Kanyiba Kanyi is still detained without trial even though the high court has ordered for his release in 2006. Lt. Camara is held at Mile II even though the high court had granted him bail in respect of one set of charges and the Magistrates Court in respect of another set of charges. Your security forces do not even have courtesy to take him to court.

Just when will the executive learn to comply with court orders and give the courts a lease of life so that they can act without fear or favour?

We cannot judge the President by the populist slogans he utters but his practice. In short, he cannot be said to be committed to constitutional rule if people continue to be detained without trial and the executive does not comply with court orders.