Reporting by Aisha Baldeh
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) of The Gambia on Thursday concluded a two-day visit to media houses in strengthening relationship and scout new opportunities for future partnership with the country’s media.
The tour commenced on 24th and 25th March, 2021, by the Directorate of Human Resource and Corporate Affairs of PURA with the overarching goal of strengthening already existing relationship between the Authority and the media institutions in the country.
The officials toured the following institutions: “GRTS (TV), QTV, Paradise TV, Star TV, Eye Africa TV, The Standard Newspaper, The Voice Newspaper, The Point Newspaper, Foroyaa Newspaper and The Fatu Network.”
The tour was aimed at forging new relationship with the media in respect of reporting PURA messages to the public. In short, officials said the media as a critical player would serve as important conduit between PURA and its audience.
Commenting on the visit, Mr. Yaya B. Baldeh, PURA new Corporate Affairs Manager said t: “This latest tour to the media institutions is indeed a journey towards new path to enhance and build a new grandeur with our valued partners in national development. As champions of partnership and professionalism, we deemed it apt to re-establish ties with the media in passage of PURA messages in a consistent, balanced and verifiable piece of information to the public regarding the Authority’s engagements.”
He expressed delight and appreciation over the warm welcome accorded to them by the media institutions.
Jocelyn Johnson, PURA Human Resource and Corporate Affairs Officer, hailed the efforts of the visited institutions for the warm welcome accorded to the team, saying it really displayed degree of the media’s readiness for a progressive partnership.
Lamin Cham, editor-in-chief of The Standard Newspaper, assured the PURA delegation their unflinching readiness and commitment towards publishing the Authority’s stories.
“We greatly value verification which is very crucial to our job as journalists, especially when issues happen,” stated Cham.
Tijan Njie, editor at Foroyaa Newspaper, thanked PURA for the long-standing partnership, adding that Foroyaa’s doors are always open more so in collaborations such as news coverage.
Baba Hydara of The Point Newspaper said: “We look forward to working cordially with PURA. Our relationship is a long one and we definitely want to sustain it for posterity.”
Malick Jones, Content Director and Programme Manager at Star TV/FM, assured his management’s collaboration with PURA whenever the need arises.
Ade Daramy, editor-in-chief of QTV remarked that: “This is a beginning of a new path and we really appreciate this move. Often we would want to verify stories relating to the work of the Authority, but we find it difficult to get a contact person.”
Lamin Njie, editor-in-chief of the Fatu Network, expressed gratitude and delight over the media visit extended to his network. He indicated that citizens depend heavily on PURA when they want certain issues to be addressed, noting that the new path taken will certainly augur well in ensuring that the citizenry will appreciate and get full understanding about the work of the Authority.
“This will undoubtedly strengthen PURA’s outlook. As an institution we are willing and ready to work with PURA,” he stated.
Adama Makasuba, news editor of The Voice Newspaper, assured the delegation that they are ready to partner with PURA to ensure accuracy and factual based reporting. He described the media tour as unprecedented.
