By Isatou Fofana
The Minister of Information, Honourable Lamin Queen Jammeh has continued his nationwide tour of media houses and agencies under his purview. The tour is meant to enhance a good working relationship with partners and stakeholders in the media fraternity, as well as give the minister the opportunity to gather first hand information on media and media-related issues.
On Friday, July 15th the Minister and his delegation were at the Point Newspaper, the Voice, Workers’ Newspaper and the Gambia Printing and Publishing Corporation (GPPC).
Speaking at the various institutions, Minister Jammeh expressed gratitude for the warm receptions and reiterated government’s commitment to promoting a peaceful and conducive environment for media houses, as well as collaborate with the private media to promote press freedom and democracy.
He reminded that Government has put in place Access to Information Law to make information accessible to all including media operators in the country.
He commended radio operators and newspaper publishers for their immense contributions to the development of the country.
Mr Yankuba Saidy, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information, encouraged media chiefs to promote peace and democracy in the country.
The heads of institutions expressed appreciation for the minister’s visit and highlighted some of the constraints they are facing. They recommended for the repealing of the draconian media laws that persist in the constitution, and for the provision of subvention for private media outlets.
Pap Saine, co-founder and Managing Editor of The Point Newspaper recognised the “tremendous work government is doing in providing an enabling environment for media entities”. He however appealed to government through the minister to addition of sub-venting the private media entities, allocate land for them.