The Gambia

Abstract

On 18th December 1969, the Republic of the Gambia Bill was passed in the House of Representatives. A previous attempt at introducing a Republican Constitution had fallen through in November 1965, nine months after independence, the reason for this being that the Government were unable to secure the requisite majority in favour of the proposal as provided for in the Independence Constitution.1 This time the Government had better luck. The Bill did not, however, receive Royal Assent till April 1970 (outside the year under review).2 Since the Royal Assent that followed the referendum did not affect the form or substance of the Bill, we shall here be looking at some of its salient features.