The Speaker
Hon. Mariam Jack Denton
The Speaker is the first officer of the House. At the national level he ranks third in the official order of precedence after the President and the Vice-President. The Speaker is elected by Members from among persons who are MPs or who qualify to be elected as Members of Parliament. The first business that is conducted in a new Parliament is the election of the Speaker. A Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat if he is elected as a Speaker. The Speakers of the First, Second and Third Parliaments of the Fourth Republic were all elected from outside the membership of Parliament.
The Speaker presides over all plenary sittings of Parliament. The Speaker’s ruling cannot be challenged except on a substantive motion. It is the responsibility of the Speaker to:
- Act as the spokesperson of the House in its relations with the State, the President, the Council of State and other authorities outside Parliament and the Republic; and
- Enforce adherence to all the Standing Orders of the House for the preservation of order and the conduct of its business.
In performing his duties the Speaker exhibits the highest sense of fairness and impartiality.
The Speaker chairs the Parliamentary Service Board and as such has over-all responsibility for the internal functioning of the House and management of the Parliamentary Service.
Deputy Speaker
Hon. Momodou L.K. Sanneh
The Speaker is assisted in the performance of his duties by two Deputy Speakers (First and Second Deputy Speakers), who are elected at the commencement of every Parliament, both of whom should not belong to the same political party.
By the practice of the House, the First Deputy Speaker is elected from the Majority Group. He presides over the sittings of the House whenever the Speaker is absent. When he takes the Chair, he exercises all the powers of the Speaker for the effective and efficient conduct of business in the House.
Majority Leader
Hon. Kebba K. Barrow
The Speaker is assisted in the performance of his duties by two Deputy Speakers (First and Second Deputy Speakers), who are elected at the commencement of every Parliament, both of whom should not belong to the same political party.
By the practice of the House, the First Deputy Speaker is elected from the Majority Group. He presides over the sittings of the House whenever the Speaker is absent. When he takes the Chair, he exercises all the powers of the Speaker for the effective and efficient conduct of business in the House
Minority Leader
Hon. Samba Jallow
The Speaker is assisted in the performance of his duties by two Deputy Speakers (First and Second Deputy Speakers), who are elected at the commencement of every Parliament, both of whom should not belong to the same political party.
By the practice of the House, the First Deputy Speaker is elected from the Majority Group. He presides over the sittings of the House whenever the Speaker is absent. When he takes the Chair, he exercises all the powers of the Speaker for the effective and efficient conduct of business in the House.