GPU Communique on State House New Press Accreditation Policy

On Saturday, March 30, the Gambia Press Union (GPU) convened an emergency general meeting in response to a new policy by the State House requiring journalists to undergo security screening at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for accreditation to cover the presidency.

The new policy was announced last week by the Office of the Director of Press and Public Relations (DPPR) at the Office of the President.

The screening by NIA, renamed SIS, is in addition to a State House-prepared accreditation form already filled by journalists giving every information about their work and as well submitting their national identity cards. In essence, the information given was enough to be used for background checks.

Now in addition to this, with the new policy, journalists are required to go before a panel of NIA officials for security screening which could last for about an hour.

Since the announcement, the GPU issued a media alert urging journalists to stay away from any such arrangement until it exhausts consultations with the relevant authorities on the matter.

The GPU has had brief engagements with and made its position known to the Office of the DPPR.

Following hours of discussions at the GPU offices, we the media professionals in The Gambia hereby resolve that:

We acknowledge that the Office of the DPPR has over the past two years cooperated quite well with the press and has made tremendous efforts towards facilitating the work of the press on matters of coverage of events involving the presidency;

We recognise the improved environment for press freedom. We recognise the ongoing efforts by the government working closely with the media towards improving the relationship between the government and the media;

We recognise our constitutional right to hold the government accountable to the people. Access by journalists to such important office as the Office of the President is crucial in pursuant of our mandate as the watchdogs;

We acknowledge that institutional arrangements such as press accreditations are sometimes necessary to ensure security, and law and order. We are ready and willing to respect and comply with any such measure that aims to promote, not to curtail, press freedom.

We however are convinced that while background checks by security on journalists may be the norm, nowhere in the world does the process of issuance of press accreditation involve screening in the form of a panel of intelligence personnel.

We therefore consider the screening process as required by the Office of the DPPR as an interrogation, not a background check.

We have taken a common position that screening of journalists in this fashion by the NIA is a non-starter. It violates international best practices on press freedom as it places unnecessary barriers to the exercise of the right of the journalist to inform the people of what the government is doing on behalf of the tax payers.

We are of the view that the new measure provides room for abuse of press freedom that it could be used in the future to shut out media professionals who are deemed to be critical of government and government officials
In view of this, the emergency meeting resolves that no journalists should subject him/herself to any NIA screening. Complying may bring about long term safety complications for journalists.

GPU will not intervene if any such person gets into trouble arising from complying with the new requirement.

The meeting also called on the GPU to continue engaging the Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure and the DPPR with a view to bringing accreditation procedures in line with standards that support the freedom and safety of media professionals.

In conclusion, The Gambia is emerging from two decades of dictatorship during which journalists were tortured, jailed and exiled. When this government came, one of the things they promised the people was an improved environment for the protection of human rights and press freedom. A lot has been achieved in this direction. We are thus urging the authorities to refused any temptation that could derail this progress.

GYIN GAMBIA HELD PARTNERSHIP MEETING WITH DRAMMEH MENTORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Today, 28^th March, 2019, Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) Gambia received a delegation from Drammeh Mentorship and Leadership Academy (DMLA) to discuss partnership agreement on common thematic areas between the two parties.

The meeting, held at the GYIN Gambia secretariat in Churchill’s Town, was triggered by DMLA’s interest in building partnership with GYIN.

Speaking at the meeting, the pioneer and leader of the Academy, Mr Alagie Drammeh said the DMLA is a non-political and non-profit body that is specifically designed to support and encourage young people to manage their own learning in order to maximize their potentials, develop their skills and improve their performances.

RURAL YOUTH AWARDS 2019: GYIN Gambia receives over 200 applicants for 10 awards categories’

By Mamadou Edrisa Njie

Chairperson, Mr. Sarjo Jarju

As the Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) Gambia chapter’s planned 3rd Edition of the Rural Youth Awards 2019 drew closer, the National Organizing Committee (NOC) have received about two hundred and five (205) applicants across the length and breadth of the country competing for the 10 awards categories’.

The much anticipated event is scheduled to be held from 25^th to 27^th April 2019 at the WASDA centre in Wuli West District, Upper River Region of the Gambia.

In an interview with, Mr. Sarjo Jarju, Chairperson of the 3^rd Edition of the Rural Youth Awards 2019, National Organising Committee, confirmed that two hundred and five (205) applications were successfully submitted for this year’s Rural Youth Awards 2019.

He say “on 10^th March 2019 was the deadline for the submission of applications in which 10 youth are targeted to be awarded with thirty-five thousand dalasis (D35,000.00) for each award winner,” says the NOC Chairperson, Mr Sarjo Jarju shortly after returning from a massive countrywide collection of filled application forms that were distributed earlier.
The Rural Youth Awards 2019 aims to identify, promote and elevate successful young men and women’s creativities, energies and passion geared to develop their communities and societies.

GYINers Conquering the Agribusiness Market

Introducing GYINer Ebrima Janko of Sotuma Sere from Upper River Region, the Proprietor of EJ Enterprise.

Janko, a farmer by profession, is into cultivation and marketing of food crops such as groundnuts, coos, millet, etc and also serves as a middleman between farmers and wholesalers.

As a young man, he gained popularity in the Lumos because he is a Sarahule by tribe and most of the time they don’t engage in such businesses.

He does not only stop at growing crops but goes the extra mile to sell wide range of commodities to meet his customers demand.

Janko has a motor bike and two (2) freezers one of which is used by his wife to sell water and local beverages, he uses the second one to sell frozen chicken to the surrounding communities.

According to Janko, he uses the motor bike as his means of transportation to reach out to farmers, wholesalers and to the Local markets (Lumos).

GYIN GAMBIA CHAPTER HELD SECOND MENTORSHIP COHORT GRADUATION

On 16 March 2019, The Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) Gambia Chapter held a graduation of 50 young Gambians on Enterprise Management, at a colourful graduation ceremony held at the Jenoi Agricultural Rural Farmers’ Training Centre, Lower River Region (LRR).

GYIN Gambia has since its inception as a national youth network specialises on youth led rural developments programs and activities.

The six months Youth Mentorship Programme was bankrolled by the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP).

The programme has been designed to provide support for the mentees on Understanding Business Ecosystem, Banking and Finance, Applying Grants and Loans, as well as Records Keeping.

The Graduation Ceremony brought together dignitaries from various ministries and partners, including YEP, Nema Project, Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce (GYCC), GYIN Gambia Regional Coordinators, GYINers, youth organisations, as well as the community of Jenoi and Jarra Soma.

PRESIDENT BARROW CALLS FOR CALM IN GUNJUR, BERENDING

STATEHOUSE, BANJUL, 17th MARCH 2019 - Reports of rising tensions and violence coming out of Kombo South between the communities of Gunjur and Berending is very disturbing. His Excellency, President Adama Barrow is concerned and closely monitoring the situation.

President Barrow is advising both sides to exercise maximum restraint and calm. He equally calls on the two communities to allow local authorities and the deployed law enforcement agencies to do their jobs.

The president urges people not to take the law into their own hands, especially on matters of land ownership. The government has instituted a Land Commission, where all matters relating to land issues should be addressed.

End

Amie Bojang-Sissoho
Director of Press & Public Relations
Office of the President, State House, Banjul

President Adama Barrow has fired Vice President Ousainou Darboe, Lamin Dibba, Amadou Sanneh with immediate effect.

STATEHOUSE, BANJUL, 15th MARCH 2019 - His Excellency, Mr. Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia acting under the provisions of sections 70 (5) (a), 71(4) (b) and Sections 70(3) and 71(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia has made the following changes to his cabinet with effect from 15th March 2019:

1. H.E. A.N.M Ousainou Darboe has been relieved of his cabinet appointment as the Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, and Honourable Dr. Isatou Touray, Minister of Health has now been appointed to the Position of Vice President. She will continue to oversee the Ministry of Health until further notice.