Lawyer Gomez impressed with YJAG Pledges D10,000

NEWS BANJUL, THE GAMBIA(MB)-Edward Anthoney Gomez, a legal practitioner has said that he is very much impressed with the Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG) particularly the activities they have undertaken towards national development.

Lawyer Gomez made the remark Saturday while delivering the closing statement at a training on The Gambia's media laws, organised by YJAG at the Yahya AJJ Jammeh Joint Officers Mess in Kotu. He also pledged to give the sum of D10,000 to the Association.

He advised YJAG members to be good citizens, hardworking, law abiding and always portray the good image of the country. While acknowledging that the journalists have the right to publish information, he urged them to follow the legal authority- the Constitution, since everybody is entitled to his/her fundamental human rights and freedom. He added that Section 25 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression. Presenting a paper on the media laws of the country, Dr Henry DR Carrol, a legal luminery told participants that the media serves as a watch dog to inform, entertain and educate and as such journalists have right to write information.

He noted that everybody in The Gambia, regardless of colour, language, religion, race, status, business and political affiliation is entitled to his/her fundamental human rights. "Journalists should be reporting for public interest, for the good of the public; false publication law in the Criminal Code Cap 10 Volume III laws of The Gambia states that any person who publishes and re-produces rumour which is likely to cause fear or alarm should face the law. Do not publish false information," Dr Carrol urged the young journalists, adding that they should know the laws of the land since ignorance is not an excuse in the eyes of the law.

For his part, Sam Sarr, managing editor of Foroyaa newspaper who spoke on the law of sedition, expatiated on the history of the law and advised the young journalists to take their work seriously and be law abiding citizens.