The
Minister of Environment and Forestry, Water Resources and Climate Change, Park
and Wildlife Friday launched the ‘Network of Journalists on Water and
Environment’ (NJOWAE), at the KMC Youth Centre in Kanifing.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Minister Pa Ousman Jarjue said he was honoured to witness the launching ceremony of this important Network which is very crucial in the life of the human being.
Minister Jarjue said water is life and very important for human-being’s consumptions thus emphasised that human beings should know that water is important in their everyday life.
“Water is everybody’s business not only those working in the water sector because nobody will live in this world without depending on water so as network journalists on ‘Water and Environment’ you need to be active in your duty by giving the general public the information of clean drinking water,” Minister Jarjue tasked NJOWAE members.
He said that during his tour of waste disposal sites within the Kanifing Municipality he found so many indisposed wastes in the municipality which really affects living condition.
He assured the new NJOWAE members of his ministry’s full support at any time they knock his office door for help, but he equally called on NJOWAE members to put the interest of the country before anything.
“Your role is crucial in this network because it is you (the journalists) who should inform the general public of sustainable waste management in the country,” he said.
The country coordinator of NJOWAE, Bernadet Sanneh, thanked Minister Jarjue for accepting to officially launch the ‘Network on Journalists on Water and Environment’ (NJOWAE).
She informed Minister Jarjue that the membership of NJOWAE consists of journalists from both the print and electronic media whose main objectives are to pave the way in sensitising the general public on water protection.
According to NJOWAE country coordinator, her network would inform the general public on the IWRM principles and at all levels for sustainable and inclusive growth.
As a network, she added, they would partner with NGOs, government departments, parastatals, individuals if they are to succeed in their programmes both in the present and future.
The following people are the new executive committee members of NJOWAE: Ebierre Gomez of GRTS Radio, President; Bernadet Sanneh of GRTS Radio, country Coordinator; Pa Modou Faal and Lamin B. Darboe both from the Daily Observer Newspaper as Vice President and secretary general respectively; Madeline Badjie of GRTS Radio, assistant secretary general; Sheikh Gaye of City Limit Radio, Treasurer;Alhagie F.S. Sora of Foroyaa Newspaper, P.R.O,and Lamin Baba Njie of Standard Newspaper, social secretary.
Mrs Rohey Njie-Saidykhan of the Ministry of Health and the Managing Director of Daily Observer, Modou Saidy, are serving as NJOWAE advisers.