The
Gambia Press Union, in partnership with European Union, United Nations
Education Scientific Cultural Organization, UNDEF and FNUD, yesterday
commemorated World Press Freedom Day.
May
3rd is set aside each year to celebrate the fallen heroes who have sacrificed
their lives to the cause of press freedom.
This
is the first time the Gambia Press Union observed World Press Freedom in the
form of march-past, symposium and public lectures from respectable individuals
with vast knowledge, media chiefs and prominent journalists from The Gambia and
within the sub-region.
This
year’s commemoration was themed “Critical minds for critical times” and focused
on the role of the media in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies.
Hundreds
of media practitioners took to the streets chanting, “We want press freedom and
we want it now”.
Why
the day was never before observed in The Gambia was because under Yahya
Jammeh’s regime journalists were viewed as criminals.
The
former president often said he would never allow journalists, who are just 1%
of the population to destroy the so-called democracy he claimed existed at the
time of his rule. For this reason the GPU refrained from commemorating this
important day.
The
past regime suppressed the media. The new government promises the media a new
found democracy with press freedom at its heart.
President
Adama Barrow has promised on many occasions that the media will be free.
During
his inauguration and the 52nd Independence celebration he publicly made remarks,
in public and private, that the press will enjoy freedom to disseminate
divergent views and dissenting opinions as required by the Constitution.
The
Media Law shall be reviewed and code of conduct for responsible journalism
promoted.
This
he said will include re-orientation of the state media to take up its public
service responsibility.
Other
ministers have also promised that they will open up to journalists and tell
them what their agendas are and how monies in each departments will be spent or
have been spent.
The
march-past ended at the Ministry of Information, Communication &
Infrastructure.
The
GPU presented a position paper to the minister there to take a look at the
content and see how best and when they will act on those promises.
Minister
Jawo thanked the Gambia Press Union for observing such an important day and for
the impressive turnout.
“I
can definitely assure you that we are going to look at the demands in the
letter and they will be addressed as far as our capacity is concerned,” he
said.
He
told journalists they have all the press freedom they were asking for and the
government would allow journalists to do their work without harassment or
hindrance.
