GCSU executive reviews SU constitution with class reps

As part of their mandate and responsibility to review the constitution of the Gambia college student union, The Student Union executive in collaboration with class secretaries, executive from sub associations and the Gambia College press have the 23th and Sunday the 24th of November 2019 reviewed and amended some articles and clauses in the student union constitution.

The speaker of the house Suwaibou Sey set a motion to for the debated on whether to have a separate environmental ministry or synchronize it with the ministry of Agriculture which was debated among members of the house. Finally, after it been put to a vote, majority agreed it be synchronized with the ministry of agriculture.

During the reviewed it was also suggested and agreed that a research ministry be added in the portfolios. And it was agreed that this ministry will be rotational every year among the four sister schools, (School of Education, School of Agriculture, School of public Health and School Nursing and midwifery) of the college.

Article 2.0 of the Constitution which talks about congress was also amended where members agreed that a congress be held twice in a year, instated of once where the student leaders will come and tell the general students about the progress of each of the ministries and students will also forward their plights to them.

Elections were also discussed where members of the house agreed that all union elections be conducted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) without the interference of anybody. And the outgoing executive should fund all union elections.

It was also agreed that all the sub associations shall pay a renewal fee to the main union every year. The school of education shall pay D500, school of Agriculture, public Health and SRN shall all pay D250 for renewal fee. And the union shall give a subvention to all these associations once a year including the IEC, Red Cross and the press club.

During the review, it was suggested and agreed that a panel be set responsible for questioning and scrutinizing all candidates running for different positions in the main Union; which will be led by the press club in partnership with the debate club of the University of the Gambia and Gambia College Debate club.

After going through the days of debates the constitution review ended successfully. The Vice President of the SU Lamin Sambou said reviewing the constitution was the most important plan they had even well before coming into office which they have finally achieved.

He also said that this is the first stage of the review and it shall not be the final stage of it, but it will pass through some stages before it will be adopted. He said after amending the constitution a draft will be released in both hard-copy and soft-copy for students to go through and also send in their contributions through their class reps. From there, he said a referendum will be called were students will decide whether the new constitution will be adopted or not and if the majority agreed then it shall be adopted on congress day.

On his part the president said reviewing the constitution is very important because it is the document that will binds the entire students of the college. Therefore, it’s very important for it to be reviewed so as to keep it up to date.