Information
and Communication Infrastructure minister Demba Ali Jawo has promised that his
Ministry will restructure media institutions in the country.
Speaking
to journalists on Thursday shortly after his swearing-in as the new Information
minister, at a ceremony held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel, Jawo said his first
priority will be to reform media-related institutions in the country.
A
veteran journalist with vast knowledge of the Gambian media terrain, Jawo said
he would still conduct a thorough study of the situation to determine which
areas needed restructuring.
“The
first thing I did after reporting for work; I toured the institutions including
GRTS, which is facing a lot of challenges; hence a lot of improvements needed
in that institution, which are to be put in place.”
He
added: “I will work with my team on the ground as much as possible, to ensure
that the problems are solved one by one, and gradually it will be done.”
He
would also work within the government to ensure that all media houses that were
closed are revived, and allowed to restart operating, the new Information
minister said.
The
establishment of new media houses - be it electronic or print - will be allowed
and made simple, and all journalists will be allowed to do their work freely.
Minister
Jawo also promised to ensure all media houses have a level-playing field to
operate in, saying there will be a policy in place to ensure that the
constraints of journalists, both in private and public media houses in
discharging their duties, are constantly addressed.
The
Gambia Daily newspaper was for a very long time neglected by the Jammeh regime,
but “we will do our utmost best to see that they are back on track, and in the
market.”
