I heard a very sincere, inspiring, balanced and fair speech from Honorable Mr. Bamba Serign Mass the other day. I want to add my voice to the good deeds of Mr. Mass. There are many amongst us who are not sincere and see no interest whatsoever in narrating the truth. This government we have in the Gambia today is a very responsible government that will never do anything that will be detrimental to the interest of the Gambia and the Gambian people. There is an information warfare going on against the Coalition government of His Excellency President Adama Barrow. Instead of going to work for the Gambian people, these bad elements are bent on diverting President Barrow’s attention and focus from nation building to something he is not responsible for. The haters will always hate, no matter what. They don’t like the Barrow government, and they will never it. The increased polarisation has put the Gambia at crossroads, with many people not knowing where to go. The information warfare is like a cultural war which is all about battle of ideas. Those who win this information warfare are surely going to win the hearts and minds of the Gambian people. This whole deportation saga comes to one thing and that is to tarnish the image of HE Adama Barrow and Honorable Ousainou Darboe. Eventually, these people hope they have finally got the ammunition to once and for all destroy the UDP. This is their end game. Yes, we are all saddened by this regrettable deportation. There is not much one can do except to help comfort those affected. We have to show empathy, compassion and support. This is what the government is exactly trying to do in this difficult situation. The solution therefore is not blaming our leaders for something that is beyond their control.
Gambian journalists need to exercise caution in reporting anything sensitive if they want to have their credibility from being bruised. They should be guided by the ethics of journalism when reporting. GRTS, a national broadcaster that is bankrolled by the taxpayer, must not be used as a decoy to sabotage the government’s nation building efforts. Instead of sensitising the public, programs like Kerr Fatou and Giss Giss have been feeding the public with biased and subjective content.
No matter how long it takes truth shall prevail and conquer.
Alhagi Touray
Stockholm-Sweden
Ends
GRTS is required by law or it’s spirit to report on issues of national interest or in public domain. Hence painful or unomfortable reporting like the one on deportees is within the issues worth reporting on – no matter how difficult politically.
I think the information or cultural war you are alluding to and who you see as victims is displaced. President Barrow has the means and tools to set the record straight and win the hearts and minds of people especially those who are badly affected by the recent waves of deportations. GRTS can only work best for the gov’t if the gov’t is also readily available for comments on issues affecting the lives of Gambians.
Let the leaders talk with the people. Let the leaders sensitize our people about the right of other countries to decide who stays in their countries or not based on legality and international laws governing refugee status and other bilateral agreements.
It is all about objectivity. GRTS is a public institution and we all know how public relation service works in the democraic countries we are living. The views of the two opposing sides have to be heard if not postponed the show until then or inform the pubic. I am glad the host of Kerr Fatou saw what Mr. Kinteh failed to see and conducted an interview with honorable Ousainou Darbor for the sake of objectivity. You see the coalition is made up of many leaders and 2 or 3 leaders are being single out for this unfortunate deportation.
The victim of the ongoing information warfare no other than you and me the Gambian masses.
Alhagi Touray