Bakary Njie Explains Citizen FM Closure The Independent (Banjul) NEWS August 2, 2002 Posted to the web August 2, 2002 By Pk Jarju Banjul Bakary Njie the Secretary of State for Information and Technology has revealed to the National Assembly that a combination of factors was holding the resumption of operation of Citizen FM, which was closed last October just after the presidential elections. Mr. Njie was answering questions from the member of Serrekunda Central Halifa Sallah over the continuous closure of the radio station and what steps are being taken by his department to promote the expansion and consolidation of the local media in the country. According to him the continuous closure of the station is due to non payment of income tax and license fee over the period, failure to satisfy the licensing authority on responsible news reporting and biased programme content and persistent broadcast of sensitive stories from various newspapers as authoritative news broadcast capable of fermenting trouble and misrepresenting government policies and actions to the public. He added that this issues where reflected in a memo to the radio station on March 12th 1996 and also in a press release from the then Department of State for Works Communication and Information dated February 8th 1998. With regard to the promotion and consolidation of media houses, SOS Njie noted that with the creation of the new department he is heading the enactment of the Media Bill is in line with the government's commitment to establishing a healthy, sound and transparent relationship with all media houses. This he said would be tinged with the fundamental principle of responsible journalism and honesty on the reflection of the national aspiration and the preservation of peace, stability and positive awareness for the common good. He added that as he settles down in his department, dialogue with all media houses would be formally initiated to build up consultation for the comprehensive information policy framework. When further asked by Hon. Sallah whether there is a statutory code of conduct indicating what is responsible reporting and unbiased content, SOS Njie noted that as regulators they have to continue to make surveillances on any license they issue to ensure that at least the commercial or legal aspect of such a license is adhered to as in the case of Citizen FM. He added that there are other radio stations in the country 'but it is sad to see that only Citizen FM have problem with government on issues considered to be public consumption or overstatements of its broadcast'. 'This is a problem that I have inherited' he said, adding that the government has totally looked at the problem and decided to revise it by putting in place both technical and financial requirements in a broader content. He further added that the government's intention is not to stifle the strength of FM broadcasting in the country but to put a certain degree of codes of conduct. Asked by the member of Upper Saloum Hamat Bah regarding the constitutionality of the continuous closure of the station when it has settled down it license arrears, SOS Njie said that a license can be revoked by the authorities when it feels that it has violated certain clauses, which is the reason why Citizen FM is being prevented from operating. He however, noted that the reissuing of the license for the radio station to begin operation and the licensing of new FM stations in the country is under inspection. When asked by Halifa Sallah to clarify why some of the newspapers that government claims to be producing sensitive rumours were not closed down instead of Citizen FM which is actually broadcasting what is from those newspapers, the Speaker Sheriff Dibba intervened noting that such a question was uncalled for as a radio station has a larger following than newspapers and in any case it is completely a different matter when the radio station broadcast rumours based on unfounded stories. Also answering questions from members the Secretary of State for Agriculture Hassan Sallah informed the Assembly that the government is currently taking all necessary measures to ensure that a smoother marketing season prevails for 2002/2003 trade season. He added that preparations are in earnest and modalities are being finalised with the operators on producer price, financing arrangement with the banks, seco rehabilitation, distribution and the rehabilitation and maintenance of the groundnut assets to ensure proper marketing and processing of the produce. He added that some companies have already expressed their willingness and desire to participate in the 2002/3 groundnut marketing season but the process is still at the beginning stage and the commitment has to reflect in a number of instruments, which are being finalised. He further added that it is not government that is owing the farmers in the just ended trade season but the operator, noting that his department has carried a verification exercise on all buying stations during which it was discovered that an outstanding claim of about D300, 000 has been owed to farmers by the operators. He added that all operators have been warned and instructed to settle farmers without further delay or face prosecution. SOS Sallah further added that in line with the agricultural sector policy of diversitification and increasing productivity there are plans to assist farmers including the women of Bakau. In this regard he said particular efforts for the support of women in the area of horticulture for Bakau is highly noted. He added that a budget from the British High Commission for the fencing of the horticultural garden has already been submitted and there are possibilities for support from the Social Development Fund (SDF) for improving the watering facilities available to women's group in the Greater Banjul Area. He added that there are also possibilities of support from the Fight Against Social and Economic Exclusion Project funded by the UNDP and ILO to enhancing production and marketing of horticultural products. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~