Let our laws facilitate free movement - Speaker Jatta charges the sub-region

Speaker of the National Assembly of the Gambia, Rt. Hon Fabakary Tombong Jatta, has stressed the need for the Community laws to facilitate free movement of people across the sub-regional borders without hindrance. 

At the opening of the joint delocalized Committees meeting on Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (MAEP), Trade Customs and Free Movement at Banjul, The Gambia, on Monday, August 26, 2024, he said free movement of persons, rights of residence and establishment are fundamental to the vision of a united, peaceful and prosperous community.

As such member states must ensure that the national laws are harmonized with regional commitments, to provide robust oversight to guarantee compliance, and advocate tirelessly for the rights and welfare of all ECOWAS citizens.

He challenged the parliamentarians to focus on resolutions that will allow member states to harmonize national laws with regional commitments by way of reviewing and amending immigration policies, labour laws, and other relevant legislation to align with the provisions of the protocol. 
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"Our legislative actions must be geared towards creating an enabling environment where the protocol can thrive and deliver on its promises. Equally, we must also recognize the numerous challenges that have impeded the full realization of the protocol. Many of our citizens face significant difficulties when attempting to move across our borders. These challenges range from bureaucratic obstacles and inconsistent immigration policies to issues of national security.   

There is the urgent need to ensure that our laws facilitate, rather than hinder, the movement of people across our borders. Robust oversight on the part of you, the Parliamentarians is also essential to guarantee compliance with the protocol”.
In addition, we must hold our governments accountable for their commitments and ensure that they are implementing the necessary measures to facilitate free movement of our people across our region.

The free movement of persons, right of residence, and establishment are fundamental to our vision of a united, peaceful, and prosperous Community. As parliamentarians, we have a crucial role to play in making this vision a reality. 

We must, therefore, approach our deliberations with a sense of urgency, commitment and determination, knowing that the hopes and aspirations of millions of ECOWAS citizens rest on our shoulders. Without any shred of doubt, he emphasized.

"I am confident that, together, we can overcome the challenges before us and pave the way for a more integrated, peaceful, and prosperous ECOWAS region. Many citizens encounter bureaucratic hurdles that impede their travel. Frequent changes in immigration rules and a lack of clear information are common complaints.  

These barriers not only frustrate individuals but also undermine the spirit of regional integration. Security concerns present another significant challenge”.