Dear Mr. Sankareh:

The death of Gambian journalist Mr. Babucarr Gaye is a great loss to the Gambian media fraternity and the entire Gambian populace who still continue yearning for a free and vibrant press. Gaye was a professional journalist by all standards; very focused, objective, truthful and unambiguous in his reporting - he had no political leaning to left, right or center!

In the few years I worked with him as a freelancer, Babucarr gave me all the encouragements and support I needed. Whether he was dressing me in borrowed robes on not, I still remember Mr. Gaye’s words as he edited my stories when I returned from the National Assembly - "You are good at writing stories, Yankuba. Stick to it," he would encourage me.

It's without doubt that his radio, Citizen FM (The Voice of The People) succeeded in swaying listeners from the state owned broadcasting station, Radio Gambia to his popular new found BBC affiliated broadcast FM station. Gaye contributed immensely in educating Gambians about their civic and constitutionally guaranteed rights via the wavelengths of Citizen FM with his able News Editor Ebrima Sillah. He died without completing his mission, as Citizen FM radio remains illegally closed to this date! We'll miss him.

My condolences to his wife, Auntie Marie, the children and the entire Gaye family.

May the Almighty Allah bless his soul. Rest well, Babucarr.

Yankuba Jambang,

Editor & Proprietor, www.Senegambianews.com