Gambia Press Union Triennial Congress Programme Guide

STRENGHTENING THE GPU; A Detailed analysis of the past, current situation, ACTIONS TO confront future challenges

Triennial Congress of the Gambia Press Union

TANGO Hall

24-25-26 June 2011

Programme

DAY ONE – Friday June 24

10:00-10:30 OPENING CEREMONY

Ndey Tapha Sosseh; Welcome Remarks, President, GPU

Emil Touray Secretary General, Overview of Programme Expectations

Chair, Ahmed Alota, GPU Coordinator

10:30-12:00 SESSION ONE

1)    The GPU; Reflections of the Past, Challenges and Achievements

·      Background leading to GPU’s Formation; Role of the Union, challenges of setting up -  Cherno A Jallow, Former GPU Secretary General (30mins)

·      The Struggle to remain relevant, successes and failures of the GPU - Demba Jawo or Madi Ceesay, Former GPU President (30mins)

·      Discussions (Participants) (30mins)

Chair, Sam Sarr, GPU Advisor, Editor, Foroyaa Newspaper

12:00-1:30 SESSION TWO

2)    WHERE WE ARE NOW - Perspectives of the Current Leadership?

·      Analysis of Survey on Working Conditions of Journalists in The Gambia; Collective Bargaining Efforts; What has been done, what needs to be done  – Bai Emil Touray

·      Safety/Security of journalists; Press freedom and political pressure; Engagement of the union in the public debate on democratization and reform – Ndey Tapha Sosseh

·      Discussions (Participants) (30mins)

Chair, Pa Modou Faal, Treasurer, GPU

1:30-2:30 LUNCH BREAK

2:30-4:00 SESSION TWO (Continued)

3)    WHERE WE ARE NOW Perspectives of the Secretariat

·      Capacity Building Activities – Training, Partnerships  – Ahmed Alota

·      Union Capacity Building Initiatives (GAMPRINT) – Lamin Njie

·      Discussions -

Chair: Madi Njie

4:00-5:30 SESSION THREE

4)    Capacity Deficits; Impact of Partner Interventions

·      The GPU/GAMES Partnership Activity – Lars Moller or Birger, GAMES

·      The GPU/Article 19 EU Project, the raison d’etre -  Fatou Jagne Senghore, Article 19

·      The ICFJ Project in The Gambia – What Possibilities for Gambian Journalists Alieu Sagnia, Coordinator ICFJ Media Capacity Building Project

Chair: Gabriel Baglo or Louis Thomasi, International Federation of Journalists Africa Office

5:30-6:00 TEA-COFFEE/END OF DAY ONE

DAY TWO – Saturday June 25

REMAINING RELEVANT; STRATEGIES, RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROPOSALS FOR THE WAY FORWARD

10:00-11:30 SESSION ONE

5)    Introducing the GPU Strategy

·      An Overview of the GPU Revised Strategy – Ahmed Alota (1HR)

·      Discussions (30 Mins)

Chair, Bai Emil Touray, SG

11:30-1:00 SESSION TWO

6)    Expectations of ordinary members, associate members; the nature and definition of sub-groupings their relationships with the GPU.  How to improve/strengthen relations.

·      An ordinary member’s view

·      AOHJ, SJA, NHRJ; Environmental Journalists (they should select their speaker)

·      Recognising/Empowering GPU Diaspora Groups (The role of external networks in strengthening the Union

·      The role of press cards, its issuing – Bai Emil Touray

·      Organising and Recruiting – Ndey Tapha Sosseh

Chair,…, SG/Prexy one of the associations

1:00-2:00 LUNCH BREAK

2:00-3:30 SESSION THREE

7)    Building a Stronger Union; An Experts View

·      Trade Union Structure and Functions – Pa Momodou Faal, Gambia Workers Union

·      Democracy and Collective Leadership – Madi Jobarteh, TANGO/FLARE

·      A Campaign Agenda; The fight to reform media laws; Expansion of the Space for Free Expression – Fatou Jagne Senghore

·      Discussions

Chair, Sam Sarr, GPU Advisor, Editor, Foroyaa Newspaper

3:30-6:30 SESSION FOUR

8)    Building a Stronger Union; A Review of the GPU Constitution, Bye Laws and Regulatory Texts

·      An Introduction of the Revised Texts, Member Constitutional Review Committee (30mins)

·      GROUP WORK – INPUTS INTO REVISED TEXTS (1hr30mins)

·      Discussions/Plenary (30mins)

·      VALIDATING[1] THE NEW CONSTITUTION/BYE LAWS (30mins)

Chair, Sam Sarr, GPU Advisor, Editor, Foroyaa Newspaper

6:30-7:00 TEA/COFFEE – END OF DAY TWO

 DAY THREE – CONGRESS

Sunday June 26

10:00-10:30 SESSION ONE

9)    SOLIDARITY STATEMENTS

·      WAJA President’s Statement

·      FAJ President’s Statement

·      IFJ President’s Statement

Chair: Swaebou Conateh/Cherno Jallow/Demba Jawo

10:30-1:30 SESSION TWO

10)REPORTS OF THE OUTGOING EXECUTIVE

·      Statement of the GPU Outgoing Secretary General, Bai Emil Touray

·      Report of the GPU Outgoing Treasurer Pa Modou Faal

·      Activity Report of Outgoing President, Ndey Tapha Sosseh

·      Discussions (1hr)

Chair: Swaebou Conateh/Cherno Jallow/Demba Jawo

1:30-2:30 LUNCH BREAK

2:30-6:30 SESSION THREE

11)ELECTIONS

Chair: Independent Electoral Commission

6:30-7:00 SESSION THREE

---

[1] Please note that voting during the validation phase of the constitution/bye laws is exclusive only to members who have voting rights.