Freedom Editors Gave Their Side Of The Story

Dr. Rodney Stubina

US Peace Corps

78 Kariba Avenue

Banjul, The Gambia

Pa Nderry M'Bai

Managing Director

Freedom Newspaper

December 27, 2007

Re: 14 Year Old Basse Boy Rapes a PEACE CORPS Volunteer.

Dear Mr M’Bai:

On the 26^th of December your newspaper published an incorrect incident reported by Mama Sowe, from Basse, stating that a 63 year old female US Peace Corps volunteer was involved in a rape in Basse. I’d like a retraction and correction made as soon as possible this week.

Peace Corps has many volunteers in the Gambia serving Gambian communities admirably nationally. However, Peace Corps currently does not have a 63 year old female volunteer in Basse, or anywhere in the Gambia. No Peace Corps Volunteer was involved in this incident, in Basse, as reported in the Freedom Newspaper December 26^th 2007, by Mama Sowe.

A copy of your original press release is attached for your information.

To help us recruit volunteers for the Gambia a retraction is needed immediately. Please print a correction in the first weekday issue possible and again next Sunday and please include the retraction in the online edition archive.

Due to the nature and gravity of this event, locally and internationally, it is important that a retraction be made immediately, with a follow up. Many people rely on word-of-mouth to hear about such events, so the sooner you can print a correction, the more your Gambian communities stand to benefit.

No United States Peace Corps Volunteer was raped, or experienced an attempted rape in Basse as reported in the Freedom Newspaper on December 26^th 2007. While this is a terribly unfortunate event for all involved, we support the apprehension and prosecution of any perpetrator of such events.

Please call me if you need further information to comply with my request. You can reach me day or night.

Thank you for making this correction as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

Dr. Rodney Stubina

Associate Peace Corps Director

Editors Note: Thanks Dr. Rodney Stubina for setting the records straight. The said piece was reported in good faith without malice. The story was based on information we received from relevant school authorities in Basse. Whether it was a mistaken identity or misrepresentation of facts, is a subject of further investigations.

For all we know is that a student at ST. Georges was arrested in connection with the said incident. Our reporter visited the school, where he spoke to one of the teachers who confirmed the story to him. We have the teacher’s voice on tape.

We regret for any adverse effect the said story might have caused to your organization. We recognize Peace Corps’s valuable contributions towards nation building. Over the years, the United States Peace Corps had contributed immensely in the nation’s socio-economic development. This includes in the area of health, science, agriculture, livestock, Forestry and other developmental sectors.

The Freedom Newspaper had earlier attempted to solicit reaction from your office but no one was available to shed light on the story. We have done our part by ensuring that parties mentioned in the said piece were contacted for their side of the story.

Prior to talking to you on the phone on Thursday afternoon, we contacted our Correspondent and he said his story was based on what his source at ST. Georges told him.

While we commend you for setting the records straight, we want to assure Peace Corps Gambia and its parent body that the said story was reported inline with the spirit of responsible journalism. It was also covered in the best interest of the public.

We also want to thank the Peace Corps Director for the encouraging remarks he made about the Freedom Newspaper when we spoke on the phone. We appreciate the complements and be rest assured that Freedom is here to deliver the goods. Thanks for your attention.