"It is our collective resolve and beliefs that we will only have the moral authority to scrutinize and perform oversight over public life, public service and public officers, if we ourselves are to live by good examples.Thus, gone are the days of impunity for misconduct of Honourable Members, but equally gone are the days of humiliation and disrespect for Honourable Members. We shall set the standards for ourselves and we shall be fully self-regulatory. As the saying goes, we must first of all respect ourselves and others as well if we expect other people to respect us. There shall be no sacred cow and no body is above the law. The dignity, integrity and reputation of the Parliament must be upheld first by its members, if we expect others to respect us."Said Fatou Jahumpa Ceesay, Gambia's new Speaker. She was speaking during the swearing-in-ceremony of Gambia's parliamentarians. FJC who was also sworn in vows to live up to expectations. Below is the full text of her speech. Please read on...

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It is a particular honour and indeed a lifetime privilege for me to address this August Assembly on this auspicious occasion, following my unanimous election on the floor of the House as Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic.

First and foremost, I thank my Lord. Allah for the infinite grace and blessings, on my life and health that enables me to be able to be of service to my President and country.

From the bottom of my heart and conscience I want to thank His Excellency the President of the Republic Alhajie. Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh for the confidence and honour bestowed upon me by first nominating me as a member of the National Assembly for 5 years and re-nominating me again, this time not only as a member but as Speaker. I am indeed overwhelmed by His Excellency's decision and I seek refugee in Allah to guide and bless me, and my Honourable colleagues to discharge our duties for our motherland.

I also wish to take this opportunity to renew my unwavering allegiance and loyalty to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of The Gambia. I have no doubt that His Excellency will prove all prophets of doom wrong, and he will take this country to higher heights at a speed and ease that is unprecedented. To my Honourable colleagues of the National Assembly I thank you all for your confidence in unanimously electing me as your Speaker. I wish to assure you of my untiring efforts and sincerity to uphold, protect and promote the Constitution and other Laws of the Republic including the Standing Orders of this August Assembly.

I call on my Honourable colleagues from both sides of the House to put partisan politics aside and work together to move The Gambia forward.

The Gambian people as our electorate have demonstrated the highest degree of excellence and maturity in both the recent Presidential and National Assembly elections and we as the elective representatives of the Gambian people must also endeavour to live up to the expectations and aspirations of our people.

Thus, my Lord Chief Justice, the new dispensation henceforth shall put emphasis on noble values, challenges, opportunities and short-comings of this Honourable Assembly. We are to put emphasis on taking stock of our own shortcomings as representatives of the people. We will set, uphold and cherish standards, ethics and privileges for ourselves that are equitable, responsive and responsible enough.

Our in-house Codes of Conduct and practices shall henceforth be second to none and we will firmly put in place mechanisms to regulate the conduct of Honourable Members in both our private and public capacities.

It is our collective resolve and beliefs that we will only have the moral authority to scrutinize and perform oversight over public life, public service and public officers, if we ourselves are to live by good examples.

Thus, gone are the days of impunity for misconduct of Honourable Members, but equally gone are the days of humiliation and disrespect for Honourable Members. We shall set the standards for ourselves and we shall be fully self-regulatory. As the saying goes, we must first of all respect ourselves and others as well if we expect other people to respect us. There shall be no sacred cow and no body is above the law. The dignity, integrity and reputation of the Parliament must be upheld first by its members, if we expect others to respect us.

The second policy priority of my Speakership shall be aimed at increasing the democratic space. We shall bring parliament closer to the people, by operating a functioning website, e-mail addresses for each and every member, where the electorate and members of the public can interact and interface with their representatives. We shall also be web-casting, telecasting and broadcasting all our proceedings very soon.

Thus, this policy and programmes initiatives are meant to leave an indelible legacy of institutional reforms/best practices that will stand time. I have no doubt that the PLANNED Architectural Edifice in the form of a new state-of-the-earth National Assembly Building will very soon take-off, thanks to the intervention of His Excellency, the President Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh.

In concluding, please allow me, on your behalf and indeed on my own behalf, to acknowledge the presence of our Dear Mother the Right Honourable Retired Madam Speaker-Honourable Madam Belinda Bidwell our outgoing Speaker per excellence.

Madam Speaker Retired, we thank you for your service to this August Assembly and The Gambia. We very well appreciate your support, guidance and wisdom and i shall continue to count on you without reservation as and whenever the need arises. We salute your courage, charisma and statesmanship. May Allah the ALmighty continue to bless you with good health for many many more years to come. Thank you very much Madam.

Last and by no means the least from the bottom of my heart I sincerely want to thank my family and friends without whose support and guidance, i would not have been here. I thank you profoundly for everything and count on your esteem support to further succeed. On that note I thank you all for your support and attention.