Mustapha Mbaye, head of Ethics Committee at the Gambia Press Union (GPU) said the decision by parliament to choose only three media houses to cover the assembly sitting on Monday and bar others was “unilateral”, arguing that parliament should not take any decision that divides people. “The GPU was not consulted about the decision to bar some journalists from covering the sitting. Is unacceptable, because it creates discrimination and division among journalists, he remarked”
Mr. Mbaye was speaking yesterday at the GPU during a press conference. He went on: "We are not happy about the decision because it divides us and we hope that the parliament rescinds its decision to allow only three media houses to cover such an important national event.”
Dozens of Gambian journalists were on Monday barred from entry to the National Assembly as parliamentarians began debating the draft new constitution that was tabled before the lawmakers by the Minister of Justice. However, the National Assembly authorities have reacted to the public outcry over their decision to restrict some journalists from entry into the Assembly, saying it was done to avoid overcrowding in observance of the COVID19 protocols, rather than for the purpose of discrimination as they stand accused.
In reaction Mr Mbaye had this to say: “There are a lot of things that the parliament can do for journalists in this country and we all know that. There are laws that protect us from doing what we are supposed to do; hence we want the parliament to work on that first. We are calling on the parliament to work on laws that will enhance our work as journalists rather than protecting us from covid-19.”
Sheriff Bojang Jnr, the President of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) also suggested that parliament should have consulted stakeholders; media chiefs, and GPU about the development prior to Monday. "We felt this was an obligation to the parliament or anybody who wanted to take such a decision to inform people and negotiate, he said. ”
He acknowledged that the parliament director of Communication told him that the decision on health ground due to the pandemic. "He told me that even the sitting arrangement of parliamentarians in the floor has been changed to give room to social distancing.”
However, his arguement against that, Mr Bojang remarked: “Even in this covid-19, we have seen countries like Italy; which was the epicentre of the disease, and in hospitals where people were dying week in and week out, journalists were allowed in because it was not the role of the health authorities to say journalists can’t be allowed because we are protecting them. In this case, it’s not the role of the National Assembly to protect journalists from getting infected.”