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Gambia: Official Secret Bill Amended
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The Daily Observer (Banjul)
9 April 2008
Posted to the web 9 April 2008
Alhagie Jobe
Members of the National Assembly on Monday unanimously amended the Official Secret Bill 2008 at the second meeting of the Assembly in the 2008 Legislative year.
Presenting the bill for amendmnt, Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President and secretary of state for Women's Affairs recalled that in 1922, during the colonial era, the Official Secret Act was enacted, whose object and intend was to provide penalties for any unauthorised disclosure of official informations and documents including spying, using of official secret codes and passwords as well as the use of unauthorised retention, possession or use of official documents.
She added that, through such secret disclosures and related acts, the image of the country and its territorial integrity is seriously undermined and often beyond repairs.
VP Njie-Saidy then stated that, the penalties specified in the act or the offense are considered inadequate and not fully commensurate to the damages caused to the state.
"Therefore, it is considered prudent and necessary to amend the act accordingly to disassociate persons committing the offense there in contain.
The relevant areas, sections and sub-sections of the act that are affected by this amendments are Cap 1701 and sections 4,5,9,10,13,14,15,17" she said. She then informed members that, these are the sections that deal with penalties relating to disclosures and other offenses committed under the bill adding that several revisions has also taken place on the bill over the years.
Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Majority leader and NAM for Serrekunda East described the amendment as non-contoversial noting that it is only seeks to substitute where it is found felony, to offenses. He then highlighted few observation on the amendment and called on members to unanimously amend the bill without reservations.
Sedia Jatta, NAM for Wuli West welcomed the amendment noting that giving the colonial laws a new dress is a step in the right direction.
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Cherno Cham, NAM for Lower Nuimi also lauded the amendment noting that exposing official secrets will give a negative name to The Gambia.
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