Journalist-turned-politician
Madi M.K Ceesay has said he would not be a rubberstamp parliamentarian, if
elected to parliament.
The
proprietor of Daily News newspaper and a former Gambia Press Union president,
Mr Ceesay is standing as a National Assembly candidate under the ticket of the
United Democratic Party (UDP) for Serrekunda West constituency.
Speaking
to journalist immediately after his nomination was accepted by the Independent
Electoral Commission, he said: “I will make quality representation in the
National Assembly; that is why my motto is ‘Quality representation’. I am not going to be a rubberstamp MP and I
am going to criticise any bill that comes before me before I will say okay. I
will be representing the people, I will be very consultative with the
constituency because I will be there on their behalf, and I will be acting on their
behalf. My response in the National
Assembly will reflect them and their views.”
Asked
how he is going to run Daily News newspaper and be a parliamentarian at the
same time, he said: “Being a politician does not stop you from taking other
activities or businesses. I am a journalist, and I have said it and I have
changed several positions, but when I went to journalism, I said I am going to
die a journalist and I will die a journalist. This is just an extra cap on me,
but I will die a journalist. I will defend the interest of journalists wherever
I am; I will still keep pushing the pen.
“As
a journalist, you have to be critically-minded; so any bill before me, I will
critically look at it based on the interest of the people, as the people’s
representative. I will not vote for any
anti-human bill or any bill that is going to stifle the rights of people.
“We
have the worst media laws in this country because the previous regime was so
dictatorial that it has come up with serious, bad media laws; and that is
something I am going to start working on. We have to repeal some bad media
laws.”
Commenting
on his relationship with his constituency, Ceesay said: “I have been in Serrekunda since 1972. This is the area I did my education, worked,
married some of my wives; I am part and parcel of Serrekunda West
constituency. My relationship with them
is cordial, and I am certain that I am going to come out victorious.
“I
share people’s opinion that the dumpsite should be relocated. It is a health hazard on the people around
there, more so to the SOS Children’s Village.
There are little kids in that place, and the smoke is really affecting
them. It is a health hazard and it is going to be one of my priorities as a
National Assembly member of the constituency.”
The
journalist cum politician said he is going to be more consultative, and has
started to gather views from people within his constituency so that he can
fully represent their views when he reaches the National Assembly.
