Monday, June 13, 2011

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. 

1 comment:

Haddija said...

Good job Mansa Banko