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.

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