The celebration was held at its West Field office. It also witnessed the launch of the first-ever newspaper mobile-app in The Gambia, called ‘PointApp’.
The App is designed to mark the Digital Transformation of The Point in its unrelated service of championing human Rights, standing for the voiceless and informing masses on factual and accurate information.
Speaking at the occasion, Pap Saine, co-founder of The Point, informed that it was not easy to establish a newspaper, recalling that in 1991, he and Deyda Hydara and Baboucarr Gaye decided to establish The Point Newspaper with the aim to enhance freedom of the press and democracy.
“We owe it to our staff, because of their dedication we reached this 32nd anniversary and we also remember our comrade and doyen, late Deyda Hydara,” he said.
He narrated that the paper became daily in 2005 and went online the same year, adding that they struggled with the challenges in ensuring that they had done well for the country by to informing and educating.
He recalled in 2006, The Point won its first international award in Germany, and in 2014, another award was won in South Africa and Zambia. “The Black American Journalists Association, regrouping 50 states of the U.S. named me as Man of the Year in 2019.”
In 2021, the United Arab Emirates recognised him (Pap Saine) among African senior media personalities. He also won Foreign Journalist of the Year. In 2010, he became IPI Press Freedom Hero in Australia.
“Without the staff, I cannot reach that achievement,” he commended his employees and advanced that The Point is the only paper in the Gambia to have won an international award.
In his opening remarks, Baba Hydara, co-publisher of the paper, said one of the challenges faced was the 22 years reign of the dictator Yahya Jammeh, which saw the newspaper losing it biggest asset, Deyda Hydara, the co-publisher and managing editor being murdered cowardly by Yahya Jammeh’s killing squad, known as the Junglers.
He said despite the challenges, it didn’t stop them from publishing to this day. He added that the newspaper didn’t only record the loss of his father over the 32 years, but it also recorded the many arrests, tortures and imprisonment.
“Despite all these challenges, our zeal and conviction to steadfastly render our service to the people of The Gambia and humanity never faded. The Point newspaper continues to defend human rights, promotes democracy, rule of law and good governance,” he assured.
“In our quest for justice, I can confirm today that one of his murderers was convicted to life imprisonment in Germany just recently and we would continue to push to finally have our day in court with the man who gave the order to assassinate my dad, Yahya Jammeh. Inshaalahu,” he concluded.
He thanked all advertisers and subscribers for the strong and continuous partnership.
Chairing the occasion, Bekai Njie, the editor-in-chief of the Paper, recalled that the paper was established on December 16, 1991, by late Deyda Hydara, Pap Saine and Baboucar Gaye.
He revealed that in April 1992, Baboucar Gaye resigned and established his newspaper and radio called Citizen FM. On December 16 2004, Deyda was assassinated by junglers on the orders of former president, Yahya Jammeh.
Mr. Njie thanked employees of the Paper and urged them to continue with their hard work and team sprit which has been recognised by the management.
Muhammed S. Bah, president of the Gambia Press Union, who served as the guest speaker, commended The Point management for its fights for the voiceless, while commending the late Deyda Hydara, whom he referred as a beacon of hope in terms of fighting for press freedom and freedom of expression.
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