New York, August 25, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about the safety of three journalists and their driver who were abducted by an unknown armed group two days ago.

Somali photojournalist Abdifatah Mohamed Elmi and two foreign freelance journalists, Canadian Amanda Lindhout and Australian Nigel Brennan, along with a driver identified only as Mahad, were kidnapped along the

The National Union of Somali Journalists said they believed the abducted group was being held in the northeastern village of Suqa Holaha on August 24 but local journalists and a relative of Elmi received a tip that they have moved since to Jowhar, a town 50 miles (90 kilometers) north of Mogadishu .

The reasons for the abduction are still unclear. Local journalists told CPJ that it appeared to have been to be a well-planned operation using three vehicles.

“ Somalia continues to be the most dangerous place for local and foreign journalists in Africa ,” said CPJ’s Africa Program Coordinator , Tom Rhodes . “CPJ calls on both the Transitional Government and the Islamic Courts Union to adhere to their public statements to do everything possible to ensure the safe release of these media workers.”

According to local reports, Mogadishu ’s interim mayor, Mohamed Osman Ali, condemned the abduction and is investigating. Government military spokesman Dahir Mohamed claimed that suspected members of the insurgent Islamic Courts Union—a coalition of Islamic courts fighting the transitional government—that make up the Lower Shabelle Administration are behind the kidnapping, local journalists said. The transitional government and the Islamic Courts Union have been fighting a civil war since December 2006, when the current government wrested power from the Islamic Union. The union’s spokesman, Sheikh Abdirahim Isse Adow, told Reuters that they were not behind the abduction and would “do all that is possible to save them.”

According to HornAfrik journalist Abdullahi Hasan Suleiman, the three were abducted upon their return visit from a refugee camp in Celasha Biyaha, roughly 12 miles (20 kilometers) north of Mogadishu .

In a separate incident the previous day, police arrested journalist Ahmed Jeylani of Radio Voice of Holy Koran in the Bondhere district of Mogadishu. Police detained the journalist overnight without charges and released him without stating the reason behind his arrest, the National Union of Somali Journalists told CPJ.

The violence in Somalia has taken a heavy toll on journalists: Seven Somali journalists were killed because of their work in 2007—the world’s second-highest count behind Iraq . More than 50 others have fled Mogadishu , according to CPJ research. Two were killed earlier this year in separate incidents.

 Freedom is possible only in a democratic political system in which governments are accountable to their own people, the rule of law prevails, and freedom of expression, association and belief are guaranteed. This can only be achievable where freedom of the press is found. Read this report to know whether you are in a country that allows the freedom of the press in order to enjoy the above.

Out of 195 countries and territories in the world assessed, 74 countries (38 per cent) were rated Free, 58 (30 percent) were rated Partly Free, and 63 (32 percent) were rated Not Free. This shows a global picture of the situation of freedom of the press in world. This represented a modest improvement over the 2005 assessment in which: 73 Free countries, 54 Partly Free, and 67 Not Free countries. However the findings of the 2006 represents a negative shift from the survey results of five years ago, which was the last recent high point of press freedom.

Read to know where your country or region falls in terms of how free your media is or how suppressed it is. This is an authentic survey conducted by Freedom House, a reputable international media NGO, based in New Yoke the USA.

Mali tops Africa as one of the countries with a FREE media status; she is followed by Ghana, Mouritius, South Africa, Cape Verde, Benin, Namibia, and Sao Tome & Principe. They are among 74 countries with similar records. The world list is toped by Finland and Iceland with 9 points each. These countries were followed by Belgium, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

 The Gambia is once again rated as NOT FREE, among 21 other Sub-Saharan states which included states like Burundi, Angola, Chad, and Liberia. These countries are among other 63 countries worldwide, in a total of 195 countries in the world where a survey is conducted. The Gambia stands number 77 out of the 195 states that do not have a free press.

The Gambia like others who where rated NOT FREE, has a hostile media environment, we have seen in the past crackdown on journalists and in some cases mediums have been closed down without court orders. Journalists have been detained beyond the 72 hours limits and in most of those cases there were no charges against those detained journalists.

Apart from the above cases cited, there is this unfinished case of the killing of Deyda Hydara. 

The legal environment for the Gambia is one yet to be desire. The two laws that are in place is no way that can guarantee us a place in a FREE MEDIA state, and these are the Newspaper Amendment Act of 2004, and the Newspaper Registration Act of 2004. These laws need to be taken out of our books of laws if we are to make any head way for a FREE MEDIA state.

 According to the ratings by Freedom House Gambia score a total of 77 points, 24 for the legal environment, 33 for political environment, and 20 for economic environment. This placed her 77 out of 195 countries. The Gambia’s status has been one of NOT FREE since 2002. with 66, in 2002, 65 in 2003, 63 in 2004, 72 in 2005, 73 in 2006 and 77 in 2007.

The five worst –rated countries continue to be Burma, Cuba, Libya, North Korea, and Turkmenistan., in these states independence, media are either non inexistence or barely able to operate, the press acts as a mouthpiece of the governing regime, and citizen’s access to unbiased information is severely changed from 2005-6, reflecting an extreme level of repression and stagnation of the media.

How ever on the contrast, Western Europe continue to boast the highest level of press freedom world wide; in 2006, 24 countries(96 percent) were rated FREE and 1 (4 percent) was rated Partly Free, and there were no NOT FREE in the region.

In the Sub- Saharan Africa, overall 8 countries (17 percent) were rated Free, 19 (39 per cent) were rated Partly Free, and 21 (44 per cent) remained Not Free. Press freedom conditions continued to be dire in Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, and Zimbabwe, where authoritarian governments use legal pressure, imprisonment, and other forms of harassments to sharply curtail the ability of independent media outlets to report freely. All three countries continue to rank in the bottom 10 performers worldwide.

 In the Americas, 17 countries (48 percent) were Free, 16 (46 percent) were rated Partly Free, and 2 (6 percent) were rated Not Free in 2006. Just under half the countries in the region have media that remain classified as Free, although this includes the Caribbean, whose countries generally have very open media environments, offsetting the les rosy picture in Central and South America.

The Asia –Pacific region as a whole exhibited a relatively high level of press freedom, with 16 countries (40 percent) rated Free, 10 (25 percent) Partly Free, and 14 (35 percent) rated Not Free.

Central and Eastern Europe / Former Soviet Union, for the combined CEE/FSU region 8 countries (28 percent) out of a new total of 28 countries, after Montenegro’s independence- remain classified as Free.  10 (36 percent) are rated Partly Free, and 10 (36 percent) are classified as Not Free

Middle East and North Africa region continued to show the lowest regional rating , with just 1 country (5percent) rated Free, 2 (11 percent) rated Partly Free, and 16 (84 percent) rated Not Free in 2006.During the year the average region wide score declined , as did the average score in the political subcategory.

These conclusions are reached through an examination of the level of press freedom in each country which currently comprises 23 methodology questions divided into three broad categories: the legal environment, the political environment, and economic environment. For each methodology question, a lower number of points are allotted for a freer situation, while a higher number of points are allotted for a less free environment.

The legal environment category encompasses an examination of both the laws and regulations that could influence media content and the government’s inclination to use these laws and legal institutions to restrict the media’s ability to operate. An assessment of a positive impacts of legal   and constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression; the potential negative aspects of security legislations, the penal code, and other criminal statutes; penalties for libel and defamation; the existence  of an ability to use freedom of information legislation; independence of the judiciary and of official media regulatory bodies ; registration requirements for both media outlets and journalists; and the ability of journalists’ groups to operate freely.

Under the political environment category, in order for the Freedom House global surveyors to reach   a conclusion an evaluation to a degree of political control over the content of news media is established first. Issues to be examined include the editorial independence of both state owned and privately owned media; access to information and sources; official censorship; and self censorship; the vibrancy of the media and the diversity of the new available; the ability of both foreign and local reporters to cover the news freely and without harassment; and the intimidation of journalists   by the state or other actors, including arbitrary detention and imprisonment, violent assaults, and other threats.

The third and the final category is the economic environment. This category examines the economic environment for the media. It includes the structure of media ownership; transparency and concentration of ownership; the cost of establishing media as well as of production and distribution; selective withholding of advertising or subsidies by state or other actors; impacts of corruption and bribery on content; and the extent to which the economic situation in the a country impacts the development and sustainability of the media.

We will bring you detail reports on each country under the three categories: FREE, PARTLT FREE and NOT FREE.

 A four day training workshop is under way at the Tango Resource Center in Fajara.M.section from 28- 30 July 2008. The training is organized by Gambia Press Union with support from WAJA- and African Capacity Building Foundation ACBF, the workshop is aimed at training 30 journalists to have skills in other to report accurately.

 In her welcoming remarks the president of the GPU Ndye Tapha Sosseh, expressed delight that the theme happens to dwell on an issue of great concern to the union. The union has continually sought to improve on the capacities of various cadres of media practitioners and this is but another step in that direction.

As we all know too well the world of journalism evolves on a daily basis and the only way to keep abreast is to engage in continuous career and skill improvement activities.

She said the G.P.U is well aware that the average Gambian journalist can ill afford to personally finance such a training .She said the workshop is a unique opportunity for participants, most of whom are mid-career journalists to not only learn new things but share experience.

She urged journalists to adhere to ethics and professional standards specially in specialized and sensitive reporting, to proactively seek stories of national interest and to continue to use various media out let’s to educate on issues such as the reporting on children, access to information, human rights and gender.

Deputizing for the SoS of Information Mrs. Fatima Badgie, Mr. Abdou Karim Sonko, deputy permanent secretary, thank the Gambia Press Union for taking this laudable initiative in organizing such an important training workshop which we all know, this country really needs more of this. He said with the information revolution characterized by an emerging information society, the role of journalists has become pertinent and ever more crucial for the socio-economic development of the Gambia. Mr. Sonko went on to say the duty of the journalist is one of seeking the truth and providing a fair, comprehensive and balanced account of events and issues.

He urged the journalists from all works of media specialties should strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist’s credibility. According to him, this training would be physically rewarding, for it will better prepare the participants to face the challenges and work towards the attainment of such credibility and to enhance greater understanding of the intricacies involved in journalism as a profession.

Sonko said his department has recognized the existence of this significant knowledge gap in journalism practice in the Gambia, therefore the department of state fully supports such initiatives. As a matter of fact, the University of the Gambia is currently considering the introduction of journalism courses.Other speakers include Mr.Alpha Sall, WAJA representative who also express similar sentiments.    

The Arch 22 square symbols of the July 22 take over in the city of Banjul was full to capacity with sympathizers of the coup, today the 22 July 2008. The occasion described by others as a revolution. It was a heavy rainy day as we are in the middle of the rains. It was by no other means that it rained, but simply because we are in the rains. The Prime ministers of Guinea Conakry and that of Senegal and other dignitaries from the sub region were quest of honors.

 In this year’s celebrations speech it was punctuated with verbal attack on the west and particularly the United Kingdom and United States of America for various human right abuses, ranging from the invasion of Irag to the use of African wealth during the era of colonialism. The speech also never spared the African leadership for poor and weak caliber of the continent’s leadership performance.

Delivering his speech on the occasion, the President who is also the catalyst of the coup of 22 July 1994, said each celebrations has a theme and for this year, its independence and national pride. He went on to ask how one can have pride if one is not independent. He said one of the slogans they came with 14 years ago, was independence, transparency and accountability. He said he did tell people 14 years ago that each Gambian should plant a tree, how many have done that he asked? If that was done we would be able to feed ourselves. But that is not happening, unless we feed ourselves we cannot have pride nor can we have independence.

 In a 1475 map which he has did, indicated that the Gambia was an elephant at that time. He then accuses the British who turned us to this tiny little Gambia. He said we are a great nation before, and it was all due to colonialism that has rip that greatness from us, making us poor and turning them rich. He said independence is a joke, because even at the level of African Union before anything is done the EU has to help. Jammeh said there is no one to be blame for such backwardness, but the African leaders. He said this why he once stood here and said he will not be part of anything call Knee pad referring to NEPAD. He will not encourage any one or organization to encourage begging.

He said the west is made rich by the Africans. Jammeh said the Great Britain big as they were; it was the tiny Gambia that help them against the Germans. Gambia also gave a loan of 75,000 pounds he said he has no knowledge whether that grant or loan is paid or not, he indicated that Gambia has contributed both financially and morally to the wellbeing of United Kingdom Jammeh rebuked Peer Review Mechanism, which he said means criticizing one and other. He gave examples of Chad critizing Sudan or vise visa. And wonder what havoc that will cause.

He hip all blames on the poor leadership of his colleagues on the continent. He blames the west and other African states for allowing what is happening to Mugabi. He said they have issued an arrest warrant for the President of Sudan, but we have worst criminals in the west. The people who invaded Irag are all war criminals, why are they not accountable for those crimes? He questions what kind democracy is that?

He asks a question whether he is a dictator, the crowd says No! Then he said he is happy to be labeled one because once they do that they will never touch you and your people. He questioned the role of the west in trying to get Mugabe down. He said he was not defending Mugabe but before Mugabe there was a minority leader call Smith, why was he not questioned for all the atrocities against the black majority.

If we want Africa to develop, we Africans have to stop killing one and other. We have to work hard to get our pride. Gambians must stop the bantaba syndrome. He finally call on all to tile the farm for a better Gambia.

Tomorrow 22 July 2008, will mark 14 solid years of the leadership of the APRC government under the stewardship of President Yahya Jammeh who came to power through barrel of a gun on July 22 1994.Then in 1996 Jammeh like many of his military colleagues in the sub region and beyond turn into a civilian, contested and won the elections, since then he won two more elections in a country that has no presidential term limit.

 The Gambia as a developing country had scored some developments in certain areas but notwithstanding have some short comings under Jammeh. The Media Agenda’s reporter at large went on a wide raging vox voice to feel people’s feelings on where the coup took us in the last 14 years and whether there was a need to celebrate the day.

Mustapha Kujabi a student said for him it is difficult to make comparisons since he was too young during the first republic. One thing he made clear is that no matter what he cannot condone a military rule. He condemns all coups including the one that brought President Jammeh to power. He however said he thinks there are some developments in terms of schools.  I think yes the day can be celebrated but with little cost owing to the hard living conditions of ordinary Gambians.

A journalist who whish not be named in this article said there is absolutely no cause for celebrations as far as he is concern. I would like to see justice done in the pending cases of my colleagues like Deyda Hydara and the disappeared Chief Ebrima Manneh.One cannot celebrate when ones colleagues are killed and got disappeared with little commitment by the state whose responsibility is to do so as people’s representatives.

Nyambi Drammeh a farmer in the URR village of Perai said yes there is a cause to celebrate as the developments speaks for themselves, unless one is blind to see. Apart from the bad road conditions from Banjul to Koina on the south bank, under the Jammeh regime we have seen much development. The schools, the health centers, the television and rural electrifications speak for themselves.

Fatoumatta Suko told this reporter that she is disappointed by the regime because as a farmer if she cannot find a market for her produce will there be any cause for her to celebrate July 22. NO, she said. I need to feed my family from these produce, to educate my kids and to take care of the welfare of my family as a single parent.

Lamin Ceesay a university student said yes there is much cause for celebrations as if it were not the Jammeh regime I would not have seen the walls of a university, so bravo President Jammeh.

“We need good governance, free press, and progressive democracy” said Kumba Fatajo of Laminkoto village of CRR. Without the above she said there is no cause to celebrate July 22. For her a coup is a crime and should not be glorified.

Mr. Malick Nyang is the publisher of “The Gambia Dates and Events from the Iron Age to the Present Day”. He recently donated 25 copies of the book to dignitaries at the launch ceremony of the 9th Edition of the International Roots Festival at the 22nd of July Square in Banjul. These dignitaries included the President Jammeh, the Vice-President, Isatou Njie Saidy, Secretaries of State, Mayors, Chiefs, Alkalos and guests from the Diaspora. In an exclusive interview with The Point, Mr. Nyang was asked why he offered this kind gesture. He answered by saying that he did it because he wanted to contribute to the development of the nation and you can only start small. He said it can only be achieved if all of us unite and toil together to give the best we have to Africa.

Mr. Nyang, who disclosed his constraints and difficulties in publishing his book, said that he would like any stake holder, practitioner, government or NGO to kindly support him financially or in kind to attain his dream as a writer.

He commended the government of The Gambia and those people who stood by him during the trying times he went through to get his first book published. According to him another second edition is underway but the problem is finance. He revealed that at present there are 100 copies on sale at the moment.

Mr. Nyang, who was part of the delegates to celebrate the Roots Festival at different historical places across the country rated it as successful and momentous to every Gambian as well as the people who came from all over the world.

Civil Society Organizations in the Gambia on Sunday 25^th May 2008 mark the African Liberation Day (ALD) at TANGO Resource Center in kanifing. The observance of the day took the form of a press briefing.

Director of TANGO Mr. Ousman Yabo chaired the occasion and Interim Chair of Civil Society Organization, Amadou Taal and Madi Ceesay of Media Agenda presented papers which were followed by discussions from the floor.

In his presentation, Taal said, one cannot talk about African Liberation Day without reference to some great leaders like Nrummah, Seku Touray, Julius Nyerere and others like Malcolm X who do not live in Africa.

African liberation movement started a way back to early fifties, he said. In 1958 Sudan, Liberia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Libya, Egypt, and others met to discuss about the liberation struggle. He indicated that what Nkrumah said in the fifties is still valid. ALD is celebrated all over the world, it is important to note that after 1963, when ALD was declared, there have been some very important developments.

In July 1979, African heads of states meet to look at the situation of the African economy, in promoting it, and to create national and sub-regional organizations and also human resource development to be given high regards. In 1980, there was Lagos Plan of Action (PLA)  this came as a result of the Liberian meeting of our heads of states the out come of which the World Bank was not happy. Then, they came up with Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). He said Africa’s food crisis was partly due the SAPs. Taal said Africa is more trouble with food shortage or price increase today than before.

Taal concluded by urging the people to concentrates on food production, otherwise crisis will not end, “you cannot be liberated if your food depends on people outside one’s home”. Taal

Madi Ceesay of the Media Agenda began his presentation with a quote from Nkrumah, who said “a United Africa is destined to be a great force in the world affairs. So the battle has joined, and we cannot disengage, until the wishes and aspirations of our people have been met”

African Liberation Day is a day set by our leaders for observation , and self examinations.43 years ago when Nkrumah delivered his speech at the first meetings in Ghana , where he welcomed among their midst Sir Dawda Jawara who was  then Prime Minister of the Gambia. Told the assembly that Gambia’s accession to independence was of great significance because her independence closes the chapter of British and French colonialism in this part of the continent.

“Every where in Africa, our economies are crumbling , our treasuries are getting empty , we are becoming client states, none of us can stand alone. There cannot be any meaningful liberation and we shall remain in that condition until we take the economic and political destiny of Africa into our own hands.” Nkrumah said

Ceesay told his audience that what Africa lack today is courage but not wealth. He gave example of DR. Congo, of which he said   in 2000, Sony Play station 2 an electronic product, because a high rise in the share price of coltan to $500 per kg.  Sony sales and revenues between October and November 2007 rose sharply, thanks to sales of Play station 2. Revenue increased by 9.6% and net profit rose 25.2% to $1.88bn according to Japanese media reports.

Yet, miners in DRCongo where the Coltan is extracted are paid less than $1 per kilo. Over 80% of the world’s known coltan reserves are situated in Eastern DR.Congo. This is just to show how powerful Africa can be with unity and proper management and control of our wealth. Ceesay said what we needed is a unity government with a consolidated economy. Then he quoted Nkrumah backing his arguments

“An African Common Market of more than three hundred million producers and consumers should have a productivity, a purchasing and bargaining power equal to any of those trading and currency bloc which now rule the commerce of the world.

Who is there to oppose or frustrate us, if we only have the course or form an All – African Union government? Can the industrialized nations do without our raw materials- or will they come running to us, as we have been running to them, for trade on equitable terms? What we lack today is courage and not wealth” said Nkrumah.

He ended by saying Africa has remained static, lifeless and at a cross road. Giant billboards Aids, wars corruption and starvation have become conventional symbols of its indelible shame. All we needed now is enlighten citizenry who should be able to effect changes when it is necessary by democratic means.  The civil society has a role in that and they must assert that role.

In the discussions from the floor members of the civil society were concern about the haste organization of the day and said next time enough time should be given. Mr. Yabo explains that the day is important and there was a need to mark it as others all over the continent were doing it. He however said next time their points will be considered.

Kebba Barrow TANGO Programme office delivered a vote of thanks.

AMMREN Gambia Observes World Malaria Day

As part of its activities to mark World Malaria Day AMMREN Gambian chapter in collaboration with its parent body AMMREN International based in Ghana, organized a day’s sensitization for journalists and partners at the head offices of Media Agenda.

Malaria is the leading killer disease in the world, a child dies every 30 seconds of malaria and over one million people are killed by this disease every year, out of this figure 95% of malaria related deaths involves children. The parasite (plasmodium) is transmitted from sick person to a healthy person by a female Anopheles mosquito.

The most serious signs are fever that can exceed temperatures at 40 degree (104) this can lead to lose of consciousness, coughing, liver failure and kidney failure. The less serious syrups of a malaria disease are fever, headache, digestive problems, muscular pain, breathlessness, convulsions for children and pains in body joints

It is against this background that the workshop aims to create awareness among journalists who can convey the message to a larger audience.

 In his opining remarks, Mr. Madi Ceesay the director Media Agenda, who chaired the workshop, told his audience that the Gambia chapter AMMREN has done a lot in connection to malaria issues since its official launching a year ago. He assured the participants that a lot will be done to make sure that the world get rid of this killer disease. He commended AMMREN International for all the support

Mr.Emilly Touray, the Secretary Generally of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) said, malaria is a deadest disease that is affecting the sub-saharan as we all know the number of children and pregnant women who died of it every day is alarming. Touray urged the journalists to be investigative in their work and also to cross check their stories before publishing them. Journalist must go and find out what % of children die from malaria and its related diseases, as well as that of pregnant women.

Pa Modou Faal, the country coordinator of AMMREN Gambia chapter welcomed all and informed them that there is a lot that can be archived, when we put out efforts together. He said our chapter is grateful to the parent body in Ghana especially to Charity Binka the executive director of AMMREN international. He told the gathering that we will embark on a tour of the sites by next months.

In his presentation Lamin Jarju of the National Malaria Control Programme said there are 500 million cases of malaria annually world wide and 75% of that comes from malaria stable countries like Gambia. Every day 3000 die of malaria and this statistic is authentic. Malaria account for 10% of deaths in the Gambia annually and 40% of our public accounts goes to malaria burden.37.2% of deaths among pregnant is cause by malaria. He acknowledges and appreciates the collaborative efforts of the media and others like AMMREN.

The second presenter was Dr. Kalifa Bojang of the MRC who called on pregnant, women to take their anti-natal drugs and vaccine to help protect their un-born babies from malaria.

Mr. Bojang went on to say that during the past four to five years, malaria has being going down. He told the participants that Gambia might be the first to eradicate this disease. He talks on various vaccine trials with little progress. Given as an example, FDF66, this vaccine was given a trial and it was carried out in the URD, but it does not work.

At the end of the day a delegation comprising of reporter led by Pa Modou Faal the AMMREN country coordinator called on the National Patron Sir Dawda Jarawa former President of the Gambia. The meeting was to brief him on the workshop and other plan AMMREN Gambia have for the future. Sir Dawda urges AMMREN to continue its good job in trying to fight this dreadful disease malaria. 

He asked Modou to extend his greetings to the executive director Binka who he said almost met with him. Binka try to attend the launching of AMMREN Gambia last year but only fail due circumstances beyond her. He thanks every one for the briefing and said the group has his support.

 "I am not offering my self for a second term GPU presidency" Madi M.K.Ceesay.He said this at the Gambia Press Union congress held on Satursday the 22 March 2008.Ceesay said he has served  GPU as  Vice President for three years in the former executive and another three years as president  2005-8.For me that is enough and that some other people should be given chance to contribute their quota to press development in the Gambia.

His report to the congress is here reproduced unedited.

It is yet another very important day for the Gambia Press Union, the fifth congress. This is a time when members meet to take decisions in the interest of their union. The fact that in thirty years or so of the life of this union there has not come a time when congress is due it fails in its duties to hold one, is a clear manifestation that we at the Gambia Press Union valued the democratic principles. That the union and its members are not mere preachers but do what they preach. I thank you all for that bold achievements.

The GPU have managed to handle things in the past three years with much difficulty. When this GPU executive came to office, one of our major problems was the environment we found ourselves. It was not an ideal one for any genuine journalists to operate.

This was a time when our colleague Deyda Hydara Editor/publisher of the point newspaper was killed. That was coupled with some other arsenal attacks on the media and its persons. There were many arrests of journalists in connection to their work as journalists. That has led to the fleeing of some journalists and in other cases media houses and institutions were closed down. Some media laws were also in places which make the work of the journalists’ one of a difficult one.

What this executive did was to go in for capacity building a major tool for us to operate. As indicated in the Secretary General’s report. We then conducted training and workshops for members just to brush the talents of the general membership. This included the two election trainings.

Still in the quest to build the capacity of the membership, The Gambia Press Union was able to collaborate with Gambia Media Support (GAMES) a Danish international NGO to come with a 1.2million dalasi project on capacity building. This will be a two year project and is already in progress.

Where the GPU made not much progress, is the numerous cases of journalists being assaulted or have the houses closed down. Here the GPU could do very little without the full participation of members themselves. Like the GPU do not own any newspaper or media house as a result it cannot take any legal actions on any cases like the unlawful closure of media houses. It is they themselves who should take such actions. Like in the case of Citizen Fm, the late proprietor Babucarr Gaye took his case to court.

Another area that we did not achieve much is in the case of Deyda Hydara. Since the report was out, the GPU did express dissatisfaction about the report and urged government to involve external investigators if they feel the resource and manpower is not enough to handle the case. We at the GPU said we have seen it in some countries where governments for resource constraints do invite external assistance. However we were not able to convince government on that aspect.

The GPU was able to convene an international conference in December 2005 to raise more awareness on press freedom issues by commemorate the one year anniversary of the killing of Deyda. The same magnitude was planned for 2006, but we could not. I only hope the next GPU executive will be able to do the same for 2008. December 2008 will mark three years since Hydara was gunned down by unknown killers.

Colleagues, there is ample need for the union and government to dialogue in order to forge ahead. I can assure you that some efforts were made in that regard but it is still full of constraints. Government must see the GPU as genuine partners otherwise the dialogue will continue to suffer. There cannot be any meaningful dialogue without going through our line ministry.

FINANCIAL REPORT

The Gambia Press Union is a non profit making organization and as a result it is not in any business. How ever we derive our income from membership dues, which is ten dalasi a month. Looking around this room how many of us are here? If we all pay our dues regularly how much money is that? However regular pay of dues is not the case and yet the union has survive.

We have a regular staff of three to maintain. We have to pay our rent which thirty six thousand dalasi (D36, 000.00). This is what we are supposed to do to stay where we are. It was not easy at all. In some instances we have to go begging to get this obligations met.

The current executive saw the need to come up with an income generating project that should be able to take care of some of our over head cost. Like salaries, telephone bills, electricity bills, and office rent.

A printing press was purchased with the assistance of the US embassy sometimes in 2006.

From June 2006 to June 2007, the GPU placed this printing press at the Point newspaper. We generated D13, 000.00.

 In November 2007, the machine was moved to Today newspaper when the need was no longer at point, for one hundred thousand dalasi per annum. The agreement is that Today newspaper pay the GPU

D25.000.00 every quarter. They have since paid GPU D50, 000.00.

The GPU raised a total of D100, 000.00 in 2005, after founding Deyda Hydara Foundation Fund. The creation of this fund was a joint effort of the Civil Society /GPU coalition. A committee is set up to register the foundation and then a board be formed. Until the board take over the affairs of the fund it is given to the GPU for save keeping. That money is in our accounts waiting for handing over to a constituted board.

The GAMES project which is a 1.2million dalasi is under way. So far four missions are completed. In all for now a total of D278, 040.00 were transferred into our account as at 29 February 2008. Out of that D222, 320.00 were spent and we are left with a balance of D55, 720.00. We hope at the end of the project we will achieve something in the area of capacity building. A number of journalists have since benefited.

In the shortest period our membership fee rose to D22, 080.00 in anticipation of the congress.

The GPU last year step in and pay a fine of D50, 000.00 for Lamin Fatty a member, who was convicted at the kanifing magistrate courts. Fatty was charged with false publications.

The GPU is able to high the services of a Project Coordinator and an Administrator the services of AAC & Co an accounting firm is hired for auditing the accounts of the GPU.

Finally Mr. Chairman, I once again thank you all for your commitment to the union and urge all of you to continue the same for the next three years.

At this point I am please to announce that after serving as Vice President in the former executive for three years, and as an elected President in the current executive, even though I have the constitutional, mandate to run for a second term, I am not offering myself for the coming election.  I am voluntarily stepping down give way to other potential candidates for the next GPU Presidency.

THANK YOU ALL AND WISH YOU A SUCCESSFUL CONGRESS