The new government in The Gambia led by President Adama Barrow has come under fire as criticisms trail false alarm earlier raised over a standing order by the authorities to close down of one of the nation's premier news media, Daily Observer, a move misinterpreted as an affront to press freedom.
Reports reaching our newsroom prior to the press release below emailed to us by the Gambia Press Union say that the closure of the above-named news medium is a calculated attempt to gag the press which Gambians both at home and in the Diaspora have condemned in its entirety.
But the press release has however helped to clear up the lingering doubt as the above-named was ordered to close down operations by the Gambia Revenue Authority over defaulting payment of tax over time.
Below is the press release, a copy emailed to our newsroom here in the French capital of Paris.
Banjul Fajara 2017;
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) is deeply concerned about the closure of the Daily Observer Company by the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA). On Wednesday, June 14, 2017, the GRA ordered the Daily Observer to cease operations with immediate effect.
The GPU has since engaged both the management of the Daily Observer and the senior management of GRA, including the Commissioner General, Yankuba Darboe. The authorities at both GRA and Daily Observer have confirmed that the closure resulted from the newspaper’s failure to pay tax overtime.
However, the GPU is of the considered view that the closure of the Daily Observer is regrettable and impairs freedom of expression in The Gambia.
While GRA might have acted within the country’s tax laws, the GPU urges the tax authorities to explore other ways of settling the matter.
Moreover, the Union believes that the impact of this measure by GRA is disproportionate as the harm that the closure causes to free expression and welfare of journalists outweigh the benefits.
The shutdown has rendered more than hundred media workers jobless and puts the company in a difficult position to respect its tax obligations.
While working to bring the two parties to dialogue and work out a realistic payment plan, the GPU is appealing to the GRA to allow the Daily Observer to resumes operations immediately.
The Union also reminds The Gambia government of its obligations to create a favourable environment for freedom of expression, and therefore urges the government to as a matter of urgency move to review the tax regime imposed on the media in the country.
Signed
Secretary General, GPU
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