Jammeh Relieves Second Speaker in a Row

                                                

Like her predecessor the reason
for Renner's dismisal is unknown

Madam Elizabeth Renner is at the receiving end of president Jammeh’s hiring and firing syndrome. She was removed from office as the Speaker of the National Assembly on Wednesday Nov 03.
             
Renner, a veteran educationist, came into office in June last year following the dismissal of Mrs Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay – 2007-2009.   No reason has been advanced for their dismissals, which has rather become a tradition in present day Gambia.

FJC was also dismissed.

              The Gambia’s National Assembly has 53 members; 48 of whom are elected representatives from constituencies and the remaining 5 are presidential nominations from whom a Speaker and deputy Speaker are to be elected by the elected members.

             And by The Gambian constitution, the President cannot directly dismiss a Speaker of the National Assembly. But when he revokes his nomination, the Speakers automatically loses the crown and by extension ceases to be a National Assembly member.

            Renner was the third Speaker to be dismissed during the 16-year reign of the second republic compared to one, in the 30-year rule of the first republic.

           Infact, throughout the first republic, there were only two speakers; Sir Alieu Sulayman Jack (1965-80s), the first, was dismissed following allegations of trying to induce an opposition parliamentarian to introduce a Bill - not clear - into the parliament. He was succeeded by late Baboucarr Njie alias Njie BP – from 1982 to 1994.

Throughout the 30-year rule of the first republic, The Gambia has had only two Speakers and Njie BP - is the second who served until the coup in 1994 

                                                                          The 16-year-rule of president Jammeh brought in 5 Speakers and the 6^th is in the horizon.



Lucky enough to complete a tenure,
 Wadda is the first Speaker of the second republic



Late Wadda was the first and served uninterrupted five-year tenure, but his successor, late Sheriff M. Dibba, a veteran politician was dismissed following allegations of his involvement in the 2006 foiled coup. Late Belinda Bidwell who served as deputy under Dibba was then promoted to the position of Speaker. Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, who was a nominated member during Bidwell’s term, was made Speaker in 2007. She was dismissed in June 2009. And Renner who succeeded her is now gone too.

Sherrif, Wadda's successor was sacked.

Meanwhile, the deputy Speaker Hon. Abdoulie Bojang would preside over National Assembly sittings pending the nomination and election of another Speaker.



Bidwell, who assumed office as Sherif retired.