Fellow journalists and all other media workers, we must not allow the progress made to cloud the fact that our work is not yet done. We, as a people, must not stop imagining a brighter future even in better times. The struggles should continue because we desire more. We achieve less than we deserve. This means we have a lot to do.
We have a Government that will always say it values the media and yet they don’t give prominence to modest reforms concerning the freedom of the press and media. As media practitioners, our voices must be since we are the voice of the voiceless. Our challenges are not new. Our problems are common.
As a matter of fact, the Government know what we want because our umbrella body, the Gambia Press Union (GPU) made their work easier by providing them what we want. However, two or more years on, these demands have not been implemented.
To those who are bent on to delay reforms concerning press and media freedom, know that you are on the wrong side of history and we are resolute and commit to our struggle.
The situation of the country concerning media and press freedom has improved under this dispensation. However, it is important to point that we desire more
particularly the aspect of legal reform.
The time has come to set-aside childish things. We have to stand firm as media
practitioners. The GPU is leading and we must join them in the struggle to get
what we want. It is now 50 years and we cannot still get what we want. This is
very undesirable.
The time has come to reaffirm our endurance spirit to go for what is best for us and the country. We have to understand that what we have been yearning for cannot be given to us in a silver plate by the Government. We have to stand firm and renew our call for what we want. There is not shortcut to get what we want.
The journey is never short. We have to continue the sacrifice so that we might
get the much desired enabling environment to do our work.
The questions we face today are numerous and we need to act quickly – how to promote the reform agenda concerning press and media freedom? How to uphold freedom and human rights? How to end this long-lasting delay regarding reforms that affect the media?
These things won’t have easy answers. What is our dream as media workers?
What we want to achieve must come with cost and we must be ready to pay the price. We are obliged to do all it takes to fulfil this dream. We must have
common calls and struggles for what we deserve.
We can make it happen through hard work and sacrifice. We will be successful
only if we are committed. This dream which is unlikely to many can become a reality. It is possible. This is something we can point to the next generation that
we inspired the biggest change for the media.
Fellow media practitioners, the best days are still ahead. If anyone says otherwise, if anybody tells you your problems are too big, your challenges are too great that we cannot do something about them, that we shouldn’t even try, always remember the successes made.
Remember that the media has always been struggling for its freedom. How will it feel to be part of a generation that
succeeds in this struggle?
It is very imperative to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day. The day is
crucial to both media practitioners and society at large. This is because whatever
we do, good or bad, has an impact on society.
As we honour this day, we should use the occasion to remind the Government of
their promises to the media and the country with regards to the reforms.
On this day, we have to proclaim an end to the false promises and we must join efforts in the struggle for media and press freedom. When this dispensation was ushered, we were over optimistic that the much wanted reforms will come soonbut this is far from reach. Press and media freedom advocates should renew calls for press and media freedom in The Gambia.
We must change to get what we want. Not long ago, two of our colleagues were
arrested, detained and charged by the police. This was a clear signal telling us that the Government can still behave like it used to happen in the past dispensation.
The Government is under obligation to give the reforms urgency over its
development plan. They came as a transitional Government with several objectivities which would have brought about the much wanted Gambia. Therefore, the Government should give the reforms prominence over whatever
they are doing.
Reforms concerning laws that affect the press and media should be fast-tracked. We have been waiting and time is not on our side.
On this day, we remember, with humble gratitude those brave journalists for their sacrifices who lost their lives in the struggle to gain media and press freedom.
We are the keepers of the legacy of those who passed before us and we must
cherish and further this heritage. Our heritage is strength and not a weakness.
Those before us were real heroes.
We must develop the philosophy getting meaning in something greater ourselves.
It is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all. Journalism is not an easy job. It
is not a job for the fail-hearted. It comes with commitment and sacrifice.
Journalists are frontline workers just like doctors and farmers. We deserve more than we get. Media workers are very productive in society.
So today, we must pick ourselves up and begin again the struggle for media and
press freedom particularly, in the aspect of having enabling legal frameworks to
operate. We have the task to lay a new foundation therefore, we have to
recommit ourselves to the struggle for media and press freedom. It is our responsibility. We have to put aside our individual differences and unite. United we can bring about the much desired change. We have join efforts for a common purpose which is to effect change.
What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility recognising that we
have to do this for ourselves and the generations coming. We have to give it all to this difficult task. This is the source of our confidence. This is a year for the
press and media. We have been abandoned and treated like outskirts for so long and it is time we say ‘never again’. Let us stand up for the God-given dignity to live in liberty. Let us tell our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey of. We did not turn back nor do we fall to it. With commitment and God’s grace upon us, we can achieve that great gift of freedom and deliver it safely to future generation. It always seems impossible until it is done. Let us take up the challenge.
Thank you.
Please Stay Balanced -Yankuba Jallow
The 24-year-old author is a law student of the University of the Gambia and a practicing journalist.
