By Adama Jallow
The Network of Financial and Tax Reporters in collaboration with the Gambia Maritime Administration (GMA) convened a media sensitization program on GMA’s mandates and activities in the Gambia, at a day-long interactive program held at the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry conference hall which converged around 40 journalists from various media outlets.
The event gave a vast opportunity for GMA officials to interact with journalists on the marine’s mandates and activities in the country which looks forward to better implementation in the sector likewise shared experiences and knowledge about the operational modalities of the GMA.
In his declaration, the Deputy Director-General of the Gambia Maritime Administration, Ousman Touray assured that the GMA established in 2006 in parliament and started operating in 2009, has an open-door policy for media practitioners as partners in national development.
He assured that the maritime has a lot to offer through which the media can help through the dissemination of information.
Touray said the event was also to enhance journalists with the understanding of GMA’s work for accurate and professional reporting on GMA’s work and the maritime sector which is set to regulate the maritime industry in the country, adding that the maritime is one of the most significant sectors in the Gambia.
DDG Touray revealed that the Maritime has a five years strategic plan which covers from 2022-2026 with the goal to engage in public sensitization about the maritime industry with regard to GMA’s work.
The industry is one of the most significant and critical sectors of the economy as most of the country’s trade is conducted through shipping, and the Gambia imports most of the goods which are done through the seaports, and as a re-export country, the industry significantly contributes to the country’s economy which makes maritime safety and security as a major issue which has economic and security implications for the country.
To ensure safety and security in the Gambia waters, clean and protected, he said the marine environment is the backbone of GMA’s work with the task of developing the maritime industry which covers areas such as seafarers’ training and welfare, port security with respect to the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code, protection of the marine environment and a range of others.
NFTR President, Abdoulie Nyocke acknowledged GMA’s support in empowering journalists to have in-depth knowledge with a vast understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Gambia Maritime Administration sector in national development for factual and professional reporting on the GM’s co-function.
Nyocke informed participants on the establishment of the NFTR-Gambia chapter which emanated after weeklong intensive media training for 72 media practitioners and communicators in the continent organized by Tax Administration forum secretariat ATAF in Kigali, Rwanda in 2019 which identified ways through which Tax Authority could work with the media in making citizens more active in terms of holding states accountable.
Nyocke added that the primary objective of the network was to ensure transparency and accountability between the Tax Authority, the business community, and the government.
The Gambia Press Union President, Muhammed S. Bah acknowledged that the media with a social responsibility to ensure that people are well informed in the various sectors. “I believe that the Maritime sector is underreported,” he said, while he called the need for journalists to start reporting in the maritime sector, that they have seen a lot of challenges happening in the sector with regards to the death of the maritime pieces.
“We have also seen the oil spill and experts are saying that the Gambia might not have the capacity to regulate that which has a negative impact on our society,” Mr. Bah said. He added “we have also seen probably people who are coming into our rivers without being licensed or without a proper contract and these are issues we should raise among other things such as the ferry system, are we happy as Gambians? And how can we improve the water transport system among other things.”
He further highlighted the significance for the media to take a look at the five years strategic plan validated by the GMA for the effective address of some of the issues in the maritime sector, while he urged the maritime to strengthen the communication with the media for public consumptions considering their pivotal role in the country.
The event also covered presentations on the responsibility of flag state, evaluation and assessment, requirements to register under the Gambian flag, which entails the declaration of ownership, builder’s certificate, bill of sale where the ship is being purchased, safety certificate deletion certificate, evidence of freedom from encumbrance among others.
