By Landing Colley
Ebrima Sillah Minister for Information on Monday tabled Access to information Bill 2020, before the national assembly for consideration and enactment at second reading stage.
Hon. Mininter said: “I am horned and privilege to table before this august assembly the information and communication amendment bill 2020 for consideration and enactment.”
According to him, the bill which seeks to create the enabling environment for freedom of expression and media development in the Gambia was formulated through a consultative process where a media law reform committee was set up by my ministry in corroboration with article-19 and the ministry of Justice in 2018.
“This committee which comprises diverse groups from various media houses and other related entities was task to reviews among others to the media and communication laws in the Gambia and to make recommendation for amendment of some of those problematic media laws that continue to danger freedom of expression and freedom of the media,” he said.
He added: “the media law committee recommended the amendment of the sections of IC act 2009 as amended in 2013 which this bill seek to amend are as fellow; (1). A total repeal of section 173 a to conform to the supreme court decision 9TH May 2018 when the Gambia press union took the Gambia government to court and won in this particular case, (2).Adding a new section 138a subjecting investigation into personal data decision to judicial oversight and to establish criterion on data interception, (3).Section 65 to be limited to information, communication technology tools and services and (4). Section 232, 235 and 236 to subjected to prior judiciary or parliamentarian oversight of these powers.”
“If you look at the IC act some of these powers are vested in the Minister but following a review and the Supreme Court ruling now some of those powers that subject journalists to be arrest and necessary detention will have to be approved by a judge of high the court.”
This bill if amended as propose will further strengthen our new found democracy in the Gambia as it will support domestication of international laws by repealing from the IC act 2009 as amended in 2013 provision that are inconsistence with international standard, he pointed.
Meanwhile debating on the merit and general principle of the said bill Sulayman Saho NAM for Central Baddibu said “looking at the object and reason some of the clauses that are propose to be repeal and amended as draconian are quite evidence particularly section 173a.”
He added that “back to the history journalists suffer a lot in this country as they were denied fundamental rights which has been enshrined in the constitution section 25 subsection 1 clause (a)which stated that “freedom of speech and expression shall include the freedom of press and other media.”