The newly elected executive of The Gambia Press Union Wednesday paid a courtesy call on the National Security Council at the Vice President’s Office in State House.

Responding to issues and concerns raised by the Union Executive, the Vice President, Aja Isatou Saidy said over the years, the media and the government have distanced each other due to mistrust on both sides adding that a lot needs to be done by both parties to improve the relationship.

Assuring the GPU Executive that investigations into the murder of Deyda Hydara are still ongoing, The Security Council said they did not know the whereabouts of Chief Ebrima Manneh

On the issue of security, the Vice President said “it should be a concern to all Gambians” and lamented that although the security services are “trying. They are overstretched and overworked.” Citing Particular attacks on members of the Security Council which are yet to be resolved, members of the Council said unresolved cases are not peculiar to journalists and the media fraternity.

Madam Njie Saidy then advised that the Department of State for Communications, Information and Technology to work with the Union on issues of access, capacity building and the training of journalists.

“We don’t look down on the Fourth Estate, Civil Society Organisations and NGOs as we know they are here to compliment the efforts of the government.  We need each other,” she concluded.

Highlighting the importance of the Courtesy Call, Abdou Karim Sonko, Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Communications, Information and Technology said the courtesy call is very important as “we are all playing the same role trying to achieve the same objective.

Commenting on government media relations, he said there has been a lot of friction between the media and the government particularly the security agencies and added that there is a need to have a tolerable relationship.  He then commended the GPU for efforts made in trying to work with the government.

Speaking earlier, Ndey Tapha Sosseh, President, GPU thanked the Security Council for meeting with the Executive and commended its efforts towards maintaining cordial relations with the Media.

She however lamented the lack of progress on investigations into the murder of Deyda Hydara, the case of missing Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh and the closure of Sud FM, Citizen FM. Citizen Newspaper and the Independent Newspaper by security personnel without court orders.  She encouraged the Council to look at possible ways of solving and or intervening to address these issues.

She concluded by expressing the hope that these discussions will inspire the way forward towards a fruitful relationship between the Fourth Estate and the Government.

Other speakers Swaebou Conateh, Sam Sarr, Emil Touray and Madi Ceesay all buttressed these sentiments and further called on other Government departments, particularly the Department of State for Communications, Information and Technology to ease access to information for journalists.  They lamented that without access to the other side of the story, it would be difficult to give balanced reporting. 

Also present at the meeting where Security Chiefs and representatives of the Department of State for Justices and Defence.