By Lamin Kujabi
His Excellency President Adama Barrow last week presided over the 29th cabinet meeting at State House in Banjul. The ministers discussed issues of national interest and issues of concern to the public.
Speaking to the press after the day long discussion, Honorable Lamin Queen Jammeh, Minister of Information informed that the first paper that was introduced was on the repeal of the Public Enterprise Act which was presented by Honorable Seedy Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs. Minister of Finance informed the cabinet that following the recent Enactment of the State Owned Enterprise Act of 2023, there is a need to address the potential conflict that may arise from the co-existence of two legislative framework governing public enterprises.
Commenting on the background by Minister Keita, Minister Jammeh explained that State Owned Enterprises (SOE) suffered over the years and that most of their challenges has been attributed to weak cooperate governance and lack of proper financial management. As a result, his ministry has initiated reforms with a view to improving the performances of SOE.
Minister Keita also clarified that the repeal of the Public Enterprise Act has neither any financial nor legislative implications and therefore invited cabinet to approve the proposed Public Enterprise Repeal Bill for tabling by the NA for enactment into law. The cabinet directed that the paper should be subjected to broader consultation with critical stakeholders.
Minister Jammeh said that there was another cabinet paper presented by Honorable Hamat Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture, on the regulation of usage of personal residence for tourist accommodation in The Gambia.
In an elaborate explanation of the proposal, Minister Bah said that the memorandum is seeking the approval of cabinet for the implementation of licences system that will require individuals using their residence as accommodation services for tourists to pay a licence fee.
Minister Bah further said that concerns have been raised with regard to usage of residential property for short term rental including apartment’s bed and breakfast establishment. “This practice not only violates the existing tourism regulation, but also serves as a means to avoid the payment of the much needed tax that the national development critically requires,” he noted.
He informed that the cabinet paper proposes the establishment of a mechanism that allows for the payment of licence fee by such operators as a way of mitigating unauthorised usage of residential properties for rental purposes.
Minister Bah requested cabinet to consider and approve the institution of a task force under the leadership of Gambia Tourism Board with members of Directorate of Tax, Gambia Revenue Authority, Ministry of Finance, Gambia Police Force, Gambia Immigration Department, National Law Drug Enforcement Agency and Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to give way for the implementation of the work of the taskforce.
The approval was granted by cabinet with amendments, and cabinet advised that the taskforce should be stationed and its mandate should be clearly defined in a (TOR) and shall be prepared by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
He said that another cabinet paper was presented by Honorable Dawda Jallow, Attorney General and Minister of Justice on National Security Council Bill 2023.
Commenting on the executive summary, the Minister of Justice said that the National Security Council Bill 2023 is formulated in line with government reform agenda geared towards the security sector. It also highlighted the effective and efficient coordination of security parameters of The Gambia and seeks to properly restructure and formalise mechanisms with various sector institutions.
