The dinner, which was organised by the Director of Press and Public Relations (DPPR), Office of the President, was themed on: ‘Enhance Government and Media Relations’.
“I have listened to the veteran journalist, Pap Saine. We have noted your concerns. We will do everything possible to have good media relationship, and we will support the media, to strengthen you; to cooperate with you; and to dialogue with you,” he vowed.
“We want to maintain a very good relationship with the media and there is no doubt that you are our strongest partner and most fruitful partner as well,” he said in his words of wisdom.
The president further called for mutual relationship between media and his government for the betterment of both sides and the country at large.
“As Gambians, we have different roles and crucial responsibilities to perform in building our nation and ensuring security for sustainable peace and prosperity,” the President reminded.
According to President Barrow, like the government, the media must function effectively and responsibly as he enjoined the media to make the best use of their profession to take the country to a higher level.
In any democracy, he added, media freedom, fighting corruption, and good governance are linked and are guided by respect for the rule of law.
Barrow informed that the key objective of media criticism is to bring diverse and objective views to the attention of the citizens, thus should rightly aim at influencing the government and all stakeholders to improve performance on policy and programme implementation.
He described the media as key partner in development and a watchdog for the public, so their work is indispensable in a democratic country like The Gambia.
He urged the media fraternity in the country to work in solidarity as a united force to rapidly advance the development agenda and progress of the country.
The minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, commended the office of the DPPR for organising this important forum between the media and the presidency.
He also saluted media for their hard work, perseverance and partnership, adding that media plays a critical role in a society by informing the public about government programmes and activities.
“It’s your role as media practitioners to promote democracy, accountability and disseminate government information to public. Your partnership with government is critical and both sides, need to make it strong that would be based on mutual respect and understanding,” he concluded.
Director of Press and Public Relations (DPPR), Office of the President, Amie Bojang Sissoko, said her office decided to take the Presidency Media Relations outside the newsroom to ‘Badinbung’ (family relationship), which she described as a symbol of social interaction within the society.
Speaking on behalf of media, Pap Saine, co-publisher of The Point described media and government as partners in development.
He appealed to President Barrow’s government to consider removing some draconian laws, saying they are an impediment to press freedom and are affecting the work of media in the country.
“We appreciate your government’s efforts in creating conducive environment for media. Sometimes we have different views, but it is through dialogue that some of those views can be discussed and resolved,” Mr. Saine said.
He also urged the government to consider subventing the media, while calling for strong media-government relations through dialogue.
He finally hailed President Barrow for what he has done in terms of press freedom, saying without a conducive environment, the media could not have been free since 2017.
Read Other Articles In Headlines
Deputies to debate deaths of 70 children today
Oct 26, 2022, 11:44 AM
