A ruling government parliamentarian told a sitting that most often they are confronted with difficulties when they travel on official missions abroad because of the lack of sufficient travel allowances from the government. About $4million was initially allocated to the Parliament, but this has been reduced to $3million.

The members call on the Finance Minister to retain the initial allocation. One of them said that sometimes they feel embarrassed when they meet with their counterparts from other parts of the regions as they often find it difficult to transport themselves from one airport to another when on official assignment.

The Minister, in response to the parliamentarians, said he had keenly listened to their views, but that ‘‘there are policies to follow.’’ He argued that this particular policy is applied to all government employees.

"Once you are invited to attend a meeting and the organisers clearly indicated that they are sponsoring it, then there will be no justification for the government to give you any additional money," he said, stressing that this policy should be followed unless it is changed.

Gambian government officials have been accused of been among the most travelled in Africa, in many cases without genuine reasons, only to accumulate allowances to enrich themselves.