During Monday’s debate, Honorable Sainey Jawara, the National Assembly member for Lower Saloum, expressed his displeasure with the 2024 budget, calling it the “most boring document so far.”

Jawara highlighted his dissatisfaction by saying, “We will be suffering and will continue to fight every day because I don’t see any influence of this document (budget) on the lives and livelihoods of the Gambia people. He emphasized, “We won’t alter a thing. The wealthy will continue to become wealthier and the poor will continue to go poorer every day.
The lawmaker said that the planned 30% salary rise by the minister would have very little impact on the lives of the people. He encouraged other members to use oversight powers in legislative sessions to address problems that impact different agencies and organizations.
“I suppose the only time to fix those things is during the budget session if the parliamentarians perform oversight duties and are aware of the issues with the various departments or institutions; however, if that isn’t possible, I think the way it comes in document form, they take it like that because it can’t address anything.”

Hon. Jawara questioned the budget’s efficacy by bringing up instances such as security guards purchasing their own equipment and medical institutions’ deficiency of necessary medications.
“Even the equipment the security guards will wear while they are down there, they will purchase it for themselves so they can come assist you and me. There are no drugs in the medical institutions where you visit. You refer to it as a budget. So where will this budget look to solve problems? Hon. Jawara enquired.

Hon. Jawara emphasized, “If we say we are representing our people, I said no, this budget is the worst budget that I have ever sat on,” in reference to her suggestion that the budget process be reevaluated. After the minister completed his task, it is now our responsibility to act in the best interests of the Gambian people, but we are unable to do so, he said.
Jawara was also concerned about the other ministers’ and their permanent secretaries’ absence from the discussions. He pointed out that this was different from the historical practice of ministers attending legislative sessions to learn about matters that were important to their constituents. “In previous years, we have seen all ministers coming to the parliament and listening to the members because we are representing our people on what we know and telling them what they are going to implement after passing this document,” the legislator said, drawing attention to the small number of attendees. You are able to see the full gallery; the only person here is the minister of finance, who is here to defend their paper. There is no permanent secretary.