The report which contains the activities, audited accounts and financial statement of the institution was presented to the joint committee for consideration and approval.
Director General of the Gambia Standards Bureau, Papa Secka, who presented the activity report of the institution to the House stated: “The Gambia Standards Bureau Act was enacted in 2010 but the bureau began operations in earnest in 2012. Taking into account the cross-cutting role of the bureau, members of the board through government ministries and the private sector through the Gambia Chamber of Commerce have admonished the bureau to standardise products and goods. The objectives include promoting standardisation on quality assessment, promoting industrial efficiency and growth and promoting standards in public and industrial welfare.”
Mr Secka said that his institution has registered a lot of accomplishments in the past few years including standardization, but added that it is hobbled by paucity of funds.
“The bureau has the opportunity to be financially independent within a relatively short period of time with its service-oriented income-generating features. However, as a young institution, it must receive strong financial resources to put in place the most basic structure that paves the way for financial self-sustenance. This opportunity has been largely compromised due to severe under-funding since its establishment with a constant amount of subvention of six million dalasi for three years in a row, leaving little room for growth.”
Officials of the Gambia Standards Bureau are expected to reappear before the committee for further scrutiny and to take questions from lawmakers prior to the approval of their report.
Legal Aid report objected
In another development, the appearance of the National Agency for Legal Aid before the committee was discontinued owing to unresolved ambiguities. Justifying the deferral, House speaker Abdoulie Bojang said there was need for clarification on the status of the executive secretary of Legal Aid.
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