CRC SUBMITS FINAL DRAFT CONSTITUTION TO PRESIDENT BARROW

The Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) is pleased to inform the Gambian public that it has finally submitted the Final Draft Constitution to the President of the Republic, HE Adama Barrow today Monday 30th March, 2020 at State House, Banjul.
The public is hereby informed that the CRC will be releasing limited printed copies tomorrow Tuesday 31st March, 2020 after its Online Press Conference on the submission of the Final Draft Constitution scheduled at 12:00pm.
Meanwhile, electronic copies of the Final Draft Constitution will be made available tomorrow on all our various social media platforms: CRC website on www.crc220.org, CRC Facebook Page at The Constitutional Review Commission, The Gambia and CRC Twitter handle @CRCGambia.
We thank you all for your participation and involvement in developing the new Constitution for the Republic of The Gambia.
Meanwhile speaking at the ceremony, President Adama Barrow commended the CRC for a job well done.
‘I welcome you all to this presentation ceremony of the Constitutional Review Commission’s Report on the Review of the 1997 Republican Constitution of The Gambia.
As outlined, this exercise was to provide Gambians with the constitutional framework to enjoy their rights as citizens of the country. This springs off from the belief that every Gambian should comfortably relate to the Constitution, and that our institutions must be structured for sustained performance. The premise is that a strong and all-inclusive Constitution will provide a safe haven for all citizens to enjoy the path to peace, freedom and prosperity. The draft Constitution has generated a lot of debate from different interest groups, which I have been following keenly; however, as a nation, we should be able to unite on the basic principles of human rights, institutional accountability, respect for the rule of law and the dignity of the person,’ President Barrow said.
The Chairperson of the CRC, Justice Cherno Sulayman Jallow said: ‘ I am pleased to report, Your Excellency, that the CRC has throughout the performance of its functions and exercise of the discretionary powers vested in it under the CRC Act, adhered to the statutorily established functions and exercised its discretionary powers in a fair and balanced manner, bearing in mind at all times matters that it considered to be in the best interest and future of The Gambia. I made sure of this as Chairperson. Indeed from the inception of our work, I made sure that the ground rules were properly established and agreed upon. Our role as Commissioners was to facilitate public opinions, play the role of the devil’s advocate by ensuring the full coverage of all angles to an issue, make an assessment of what was essential or fundamental for inclusion in the Draft Constitution, and ensure a properly and effectively drafted Constitution that left little to no room for interpretation or uncertainty. Personal beliefs were eschewed and kept out of the decision-making process.’
The Minister of Justice, Abubacarr Tambadou commended the CRC for their outstanding professionalism, commitment and dedication to national duty.