The
guidelines on ownership and cross-ownership in the broadcasting sector are to
ensure media plurality and contribute towards a robust democratic society.
The
guidelines, validated on Thursday at the Kairaba Beach Hotel, would also allow
the general public to be able to consume a wide variety of information.
Speaking
on the occasion, Lamin Camara, permanent secretary at the Ministry of
Information and Communication (MOICI), said PURA would ensure “the
liberalisation we started which, is done according to establishment of industry
norms and best practices”.
“We
are here today for the liberalisation of the broadcasting sector which comes to
radio communication and the newspapers but as you all know the TV was a no go
area,” he said.
“We
have only one national broadcaster; there were no other TV stations. With the
advent of the new Gambia the president made a pronouncement to liberalise the
broadcasting sector.”
Ansumana
Sanneh, director general of PURA, he said the PURA Act 2001 mandated Authority
to regulate the energy sector which consist of the electricity, water, the ICT
sector including telecommunication sector and of cause broadcasting.
He
said with the validation of the guidelines, the broadcasting sector “is now
opened for participation by all Gambians”.
