May 29th, 2009
GRTS goes on satellite
By Mohammed Legally-Cole
The Gambian President, His Excellency Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, Monday evening 25th May 2009, presided over the launching ceremony of a $9.5 million (US Dollar) project that saw the national broadcasting services, The Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) go on satellite.
The ceremony was held at GRTS’ head office along MDI Road in Kanifing. In a statement read on behalf of President Jammeh, Haja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs, expressed delight and thanks to the Almighty Allah for making this project possible, describing it as an important milestone project in the journey to develop The Gambia. “The digitalization of GRTS and the introduction of satellite broadcasting has always been my personal ambition which has finally come to fruition today. My passion in this project lies not only in the immeasurable and diverse opportunities it provides to The Gambia in its drive to be reckoned with among the comity of nations, but also in the opportunities it provides for Gambians in the Diaspora and non-Gambians alike to get direct access to accurate information on The Gambia,” President Jammeh noted.
With GRTS going on satellite, he added, news, information and other facts about the country, the people, our culture, and heritages would now be accessed by all internationally, regardless of where one is located. “The launch of this multi-million-dollar satellite project for GRTS today, utilizing state of the earth equipment which is second to none in Africa, is a solid fulfillment of my government’s aspiration to enhance the quality of broadcasting at the GRTS,” the Gambian leader stated. For many people, he went on, such projects are considered ideal and possible only for the rich and more powerful economies. Bigger and more robust economies have not been able to achieve digitalization even though their national TVs have been in existence longer than GRTS which came into being in December 1995.”
President Jammeh spoke at length on the potentials of satellite broadcasting and the opportunities it would offer The Gambia. He further observed that the signals from the satellite that would be received throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East and most parts of the Americas, will place The Gambia on the international super-highway for enhanced news and information broadcasting. “By becoming more positively exposed internationally, there no longer would be space for detractors and unscrupulous elements that do all it takes to spread false and potentially damaging stories about The Gambia. The fact that we are now on satellite broadcasting, most of these stories would be demystified and corrected. In launching the project therefore, I wish to urge all Gambians including those in the Diaspora to join hands in building a stronger image of the country which would earn the respect of others”, President Jammeh remarked.
He assured Gambians that his government will leave no stone unturned to explore opportunities to consolidate the gains of the information and information technologies. “For GRTS, the sky will continue to be the limit. The next phase of the project which is currently on-going will complete the switch-over process from the current analogue to the new and advanced digitalized broadcasting technology and expanding this to the terrestrial transmission network,” Professor Jammeh revealed.
He thanked Loum Jagne of RSI, the contractor of the multi-million-dollar satellite project, the staff of GRTS and the Department of State for Communication, Information and Information Technology, for a job well done. President Jammeh finally urged the management and staff of the national broadcaster to take special care of the facilities and infrastructure by ensuring that they are well kept and maintained in the interest of sustainability. Speaking earlier, Alhaji Cham, permanent secretary at the Department of State for Communication, Information and Information Technology, said his department and GRTS have worked together with the support from the Office of the President to make this project a reality.
For his part, Momodou Sanyang, director general of GRTS, thanked the Almighty Allah for making this historic day possible. He revealed that it was through the support of President Jammeh that the satellite project was made possible. Director General Sanyang described the satellite project as a giant step ahead, which requires hardwork, good vision as well as installation of sound programmes. Sanyang further said that GRTS has the most advanced studio in West Africa. He commended President Jammeh for the support he rendered to GRTS and for setting records by providing satellite for The Gambia. DG Sanyang finally thanked RSI, the contractor of the satellite project and all the staff of GRTS and Department of State Communication and Information Technology (DoSCIT) for a job well done.
Loum Jagne, Chief Executive Officer of RSI, also thanked President Jammeh for the honour and privilege given to them to finish the project in a short period. Serign Faye, manager, Radio Programmes at GRTS, delivered the vote of thanks. President Jammeh was later taken on a conducted tour of the GRTS building. The ceremony was attended by Haja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, vice president and secretary of state for Women’s Affairs, Hon Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, Speaker of the National Assembly, secretaries of state, and dignitaries, among others.