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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 19 Jul 2018 : 14:43:20
Thursday, July 19, 2018
President Adama Barrow in his Farafenni meeting said he is determined to see all draconian laws embedded for decades in our constitution repealed. If the president really means what he says, then he’s counting his way to success.
For so long, the Gambian media ha been gripped with unfavourable media laws that militate against the prosperity of press freedom. Today, the media speaks in one voice and that is: ‘Repeal All Draconian Laws.’
Barrow challenged journalists to foster transparency in government by reporting on its activities as much as possible. However, as journalists, it our business to relay what the president meant by this statement. We must understand that writing about government’s activities does not only require about just writing for the sake of writing. It requires a writing that ensures transparency and accountability and that cannot be achieved when public officials are not obliged to share information with the media.
On State House official Facebook page, Barrow said the media has a high stake in the national development blueprint, pointing out that all draconian laws that affect press freedom will be repealed and replaced with more progressive ones which will encourage access and free flow of information in the country.
This is a welcome declaration and it came at a time when the media is in the wilderness. Laws like false information and defamation that are still taking a stake in our constitution are of great hindrance, and the pressmen and women would be more than glad to see them repealed.
The president has affirmed that his government would adopt a different stance on press freedom, promising that the dark days of the media in Jammeh’s time are now over.
The media is always willing to welcome such developments as it is the fourth estate.We therefore hope that the if dreams come true, the media prosperity then trickles down on everyone of this country.
“Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation.”
Atifete Jahjaga
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/repeal-all-draconian-laws |
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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 19 Jul 2018 : 14:50:43
It appears to me that the Point has made TWO separate articles about the same subject,the reason maybe laws that apply ONLY to the MEDIA and one for the people,interesting to see which laws are considered Draconian
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Thursday, July 19, 2018
President Adama Barrow has challenged Gambian journalists to foster transparency in government by reporting on its activities as much as possible.
Speaking at meeting in Farafenni in North Bank Region (NBR), as part of his nationwide tour, The Gambian leader said his administration operates on a policy of absolute transparency and commits itself to the values of good governance, transparency and accountability as enshrined in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2021.
According to the State House Facebook page, Barrow said the media has a high stake in the NDP stating that all draconian laws that affect press freedom will be repealed and replaced with a more progressive one which will encourage access to and free flow of information in the country.
Scores of speakers praised the Barrow administration for enabling unprecedented freedom of speech and expression, which was an elusive dream for the past decades.
He empathized with the press on the hardship they endured during the former regime, promising never again to the dark days of media gagging. He said his government would adopt a different stance.
A youth representative at the Farafenni meeting welcomed the idea of a bridge at the Banjul-Barra crossing point, saying that it will open the town to the rest of the world connecting it to Dakar, Cairo and Lagos. The speakers also lauded the 24-hour electricity supply they enjoy while calling for an extension to satellite communities.
Author: Momodou Jawo
Source: Picture: President Adama Barrow
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/barrow-media-will-never-be-silenced-again |
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