Pa Samba Jow, US-based Gambian rights activist, has slammed the country’s lawmakers as ‘selfish’ for purchasing brand new vehicles costing D2.5 million each at the expense of Gambian taxpayers. 

The National Assembly members have come under public backlash after they bought 58 brand new vehicles for themselves amid rising cost of living and in employment.

However, the MPs have defended the vehicles saying that it is part of a trust fund bill passed by the House during the tenure of the last parliament. 

But according to reports, the MPs will only pay half of the money for each vehicle while The Gambia government will pay the other half of the vehicle.

Speaking to Gambiana exclusively, Pa Samba Jow, said: “what the National Assembly did to my view is wrong because they are elected into office to represent the people with the view for them to go address problems of the people. 

“But if I look since these lawmakers were elected into office, every day they are looking at how they enrich themselves, and they know that living condition in the country is expensive, food prices is rising, there is no medication at the hospitals, there is lack of jobs among the youth.”

Mr Jow continued: “The MPs are entitled to clothing allowance, seating allowance and they are travelling always and anytime they travel they are paid per diem. 

“What they are saying that the government gives the ministers two vehicles, but those vehicles are not owned by the ministers because anytime they are sacked the government will take back the vehicles .To my view why The Gambia still remain poor is the attitude of our politicians and National Assembly members.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba