The Independent Electoral Commission oversees all aspects of the electoral
process in the Gambia. This includes setting forth rules governing the
election process, political parties, the public media, campaigning; etc.
Further, this body ensures compliance to the set rules and regulations as
stated by them. This has been amply demonstrated during the referandum,
presidential and national assembly elections, when all contesting parties
were given airtime as per the rule of the IEC. If i remember right there was
the 10 minute of airtime per day per party ( this could be 20 minutes,
anyway it's in that neighborhood). The public media abides by these IEC
rules, particularly during active politicking towards elections. These are
IEC rules. And only the IEC has the mandate to come out with such
pronouncements. It is safe, therefore, to say the IEC needs to come forth
with the rules for these election and ensure compliance by the management of
the public media. The services of a referee, in this case the IEC, will be
required to ensure the proper apportionment of airtime for the political
parties contesting the coming elections. From this angle, GRTS and the
entire public media family, will have little to go by without the dictates
of IEC. Of course, it makes no sense to equate " election airtime
apportionment" to regular broadcasting/ news reporting. The times are
hypersensitive during elections. This is common knowledge. Unless some
strict rules are enforced by a recognised body, there cannot be any
semblance of fairness whatsoever in reporting and it's likes for the
elections. So, for some of you questioning the need for the IEC to
intervene, it is simple and clear; it has the capacity and capability of
ensuring equal access to the media, particularly the public broadcasting and
printing services. I dare say, the intervention of the IEC is very well
needed!

Goodnite,
Harona.


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