By: Kebba AF Touray
The Gambia’s Minister of Women’s Affairs, Children, and Social Welfare, Mrs. Fatou Kinteh, has disclosed to deputies that the European Union (EU) promised to give EUR 3 million to support the Women’s Enterprise Bill.
The renowned Gender Activist and Social Worker with vast experience in advocacy for the rights of women and children, was speaking before a joint meeting of Public Enterprises Committee (PEC) and Health Committee of the National Assembly in Banjul.
Madam Kinteh informed the lawmakers that the enterprise fund had been established to create access to women in terms of micro-finance and access to credits, as the women constitute majority of Micro and Small Entrepreneurship in the Gambia.
She disclosed that the primary challenge confronting women entrepreneurs is the lack of access to credit, which has motivated them to put the bill [before NAMs] so as to address the menace, noting that banks are a non-starter as they require collateral, which most of the women cannot afford.
“This bill is one of the regulations that we must fulfill before we are able to access fund from the European Union. When enterprise fund was put in the NDP[country’s development blueprin], the EU picked it up and promised to give us 3 million euros to support the bill,” the members heard from the Women’s Affairs Minister, who added that the government of the Gambia is providing them with D12 million (D6 million per year) to support the bill.
She explained: “We have gone very far and have already constituted a board and identified a temporal Fund Manager.And, we are establishing the regional structures, as it is a requirement for us to access the funds from the EU”.
Madam Kinteh reported, “The Ministry of Finance assured us that by the first week of July 2020, they will pay the D6 million into our account at the Central Bank.
“I listened keenly to the presentation by the Chairperson and agreed totally, with all the constitutions that are required before the bill is finally approved. These are requirements of the National Assembly and we can no way deviate from that.”
She indicated that part of EU and Finance Ministry’s requirements is for her Ministry to train 200 women in July and disburse funds to at least, 100 women. This fund, she went on, will be operated by a Board of Trustees under the management of the fund and the Minister, and will be given to the women at very low interest rates.
Hon. Ousman Sillah, Chair of the National Assembly Select Committee on Women, who also doubles as Co-Chair of the joint Women and PEC Committee, acknowledged the significance the bill, as it helps to address the entrepreneurial capacity challenges of the womenfolk in this country.
The PDOIS elected NAM for Banjul North, avowed his full support towards the enactment of the Bill into law, but he also advised the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to put on hold all processes until after the Act is in place, in order to avoid putting, what he termed, ‘cart before the horse’.
Hon. Halifa Sallah, Chairperson of PEC Committee and a Co-Chair of the Joint Women and PEC Committee, said “The engagement aimed to ensure that the legislature give the Women’s Enterprise Bill the due consideration. The bill is conceived to be of fundamental significance and shall be published in the gazette in 14 days before its introduction to the Assembly, unless it comes as a certificate of urgency”.
The seasoned legislator referred to Standing Order 104 (of the Legislative House) indicating where there is a matter of joint-concern, two or more committees may be allowed to deal with a bill and are given approaches, which entail concurrent sittings, allowing a committee to handle the matter, while involving the other only to receive information and for the committees to select from among their ranks, those who constitute the Special Select Committee to deal with the matter.
Hon. Sallah explained: “That is what we are doing today. We had to sit to resolve precisely what we should do and the committee members agreed that we sit concurrently, and to decide on the Chairpersonship of the joint meeting. And we have adopted the approach of revolving the chairpersonship”.
The Serekunda Central Member noted that the engagement is clearly stipulated under Standing Orders 69 paragraphs 4 and 2. “So our engagement is to look at the clauses of the bill and hear the opinions of the Women Affairs Ministry. But since we are lawmakers, we are looking for what would be coherent explanation of why the provisions stand as they are in the bill, if we have any questions,” Hon. Sallah told the meeting.
He continued: “So that ultimately, we see eye to eye on the clauses and their reasons, and in that instance, we would be able to give a fair opinion on the content of the bill, so that the members would be able to accept what is presented to them. And in that case, the bill will sail in the parliament.”
Sallah said, the joint session opens up the discussion to consider the Gambia Women’s Enterprise Fund Bill 2020, for scrutiny, consideration and advice to “the plenary on its merits”.
After its first reading in the National Assembly, the lawmakers decided to refer the Bill to the Select Committees on Public Enterprise and Health of the Legislature, for scrutiny, consideration and advice to the plenary.
This referral has set the basis for which the two committees, in line with standing order 69, have summoned this joint engagement with the Women’s Affairs Ministry in the execution of the legislative oversight that has been assigned to the two committees.
