Mr. Bah, Add me to your side. I agree with you entirely! Saul. >From: Yunusa Bah <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Emulate Mr. Houma to ward off speculation >Date: Sat, 18 Dec 1999 13:54:28 +0000 > >Mr. Silla, > >I don't think there is much to emulate if only you know the tactic of most >public >officials in this country. The only time they willingly agree to speak to >the >press is when they know they have to to save their jobs. So they are not >speaking >much to clarify issues as much to try to cleanse themselves in the eyes of >their >bosses. And the norm is always the same. When they are contacted to clarify >an >issue they give excuses to avoid talking and only agree to talk after an >incriminating article has been published. > >What i would want to see is cultivate a culture of speaking out when asked >from >day one. You don't wait until something is published and go summoning press >conferences with every ammunition you have. You don't impress a lot. I >think GPTC >management mishandled the whole affair from the beginning when they had the >opportunity to refute every allegation including the one on the strike. So >i >really see Mr Houma's press conference a face-saving one. This is my >opinion. > > >Regards > > >Yunusa > > > >"Mr. O. B. Silla" wrote: > > > G-Lers, > > > > The Managing Director of The Gambia Public Transport Corporation Mr. >Bakary > > Houma's recent press conference to clear the air about certain unfounded > > rumours levelled against his Corporation in some private media houses, >of > > certain irregularities in the distribution and disbursement of staff > > incentives (bus passes and staff loans with documentary proof) is very > > laudable. In short, this atmosphere of dialogue between the authorities >and > > the press should be encouraged in order to set the records straight in >the > > wake of unsubstantive allegations/reports being bandied around with >sometimes > > questionable motives, I must admit. Hence it goes without saying that, > > investigative and enquiring minds should be a prerequisite for balanced > > reporting. > > > > That said, if all the Public Servants also see it as their civic duty to > > answer to or account for allegations made against their institutions >with > > candour, the better off the country will be and less the amount of > > unconfirmed reports to circulate around town. > > > > For the full report of the story read the week-end Observer at >www.qanet.gm. > > > > Alotta a continua in the name of "transparency and accountability". God > > bless The Gambia. > > > > OB Silla > > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the >Gambia-L > > Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ><< ybah.vcf >> ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------