Dida Halake & The Gambia Press Union–Advice to a Brother

By Demba A. Jawo

Dida Halake, Daily Observer MD  on the rampage

Personally, I have never formally met Dida Halake, the Daily Observer’s Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief, but I have long been enjoying reading his analysis. However, even though I have not been in agreement with most of his points of view on a number of issues he writes about, I have always respected his absolute right to express those points of view. When he was appointed Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of the Daily Observer, I thought with his maturity and exposure, he was going to bring some sanity in its management-vis-à-vis its negative, poor image.

Therefore, one can imagine how disappointed I must have felt to read Halake’s disparaging remarks about the Gambia Press Union, apparently because he did not like its independent stance, and even threatening to sack Buya Jammeh from the Observer if he failed to resign from the GPU executive. I think he has over-stepped all bounds of decency and respect for democratic values.

While I would still continue to defend Mr. Halake’s right to hold any views on any subject, I think as a non-Gambian, he is treading on dangerous ground by being seen to try to use his privileged position to suppress the genuine wishes and aspirations of Gambians.

While Mr. Halake may be in the good books of those in power today, and as a result he may feel quite powerful too, he should never lose sight of the fact that no situation is permanent and by his present belligerent attitude towards many Gambians, he is going against the grain, which can put him on a collusion course with many Gambians of goodwill.

Of course, while we all welcome strangers in our midst, particularly Africans wherever they may come from, Dida Halake should be aware that like all people the world over, we are not comfortable with those who use their privileged positions to ride on our backs, which he seems to be doing.

Therefore, as brother, I wish to advice him not to interfere too much in our local politics, because it is likely to put him in direct confrontation with his hosts. I am sure he would not like a Gambian or anyone else to go to his home country (Kenya/Ethiopia) and start using his/her association with the authorities there to behave with disrespect to the local people and their institutions, as he seems to be doing in The Gambia.