It is deeply regretted that the Gambia is going back to the days of media censorship, if the Minister of Information asked the QTV Gambia not to air the interview of issues-based host Mr Mboge and the Dynamic Journalist Essau Williams. It means the Government responsible for media do not uphold the current 1997 constitution of the Gambia section (25)(a) that freedom of speech and expression which includes freedom of media, (25)(b) Freedom of thought and conscience including academic freedom.
It can be recalled that the Honourable Minister was a media personnel who stood against Censorship and even exiled when his freedom was not respected. Honourable Minister Sillah should have been in the fore front in providing equal opportunity to the opposition in all state own mediums under his watch as stipulated in the Constitution Section (208) that all state owned Newspapers, Journals and Television shall afford fair opportunities and facilities for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions. The Government of the operates in the contrary to the constitutional provisions as it’s not suitable with their propaganda.
I would like to remind the Barrow Administration that it’s the Constitution Section ( 207)(1) that guarantees the freedom and responsibility of the media and Section (207)(3) States that, The press and other information media shall at all times be free to uphold the principles, provisions and objectives of the Constitution and the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the People of the Gambia.
MC Cham Jnr
GDC National Youth President
