THE BIG INTERVIEW: Michael Scales Speak!!!

Freedom Newspaper; What Makes you so connected to The Gambia and your willingness to participate in the online debate?

 Michael; I believe in Gambians.My associations are very deep and constructive going back many years.My stake holding extends to affiliations in sport and local communities, organizations and individuals. I also have two young sons who have me as there Father and a Gambian mother. In fact today is my eldest boy Arthur's 8th Birthday.

I am married to a noble Princess of the largest tribe in Africa who's own connections extend to The President of Nigeria and at the highest level in the legal fraternity. She is well on the way to fulfilling her ambition to become a Human Rights lawyer with a special interest in women/children’s rights. My own career as a successful businessman has been a hard road of dedication driven by personal targets that have almost excluded me from having long term relationships. To share a life with a salesman is a very hard partnership to endure. To be successful in any field requires tenacity and wisdom but above all stamina. As any salesman knows, it doesn’t matter how good you were yesterday, tomorrow is a new challenge with all its obstacles. Commercial competition in the U.K. is fierce.

To try this new challenge of writing, based on my own experience in Africa, knowing that different points of view are examining what I write, is not an easy objective or experience. I find it personally challenging and very stressful.

The requirement is to remain true to principal and record as much comment as possible based on evidence and to try hard to endorse what others are saying when you know for a fact that they are honest and true.

It gives me a lot of satisfaction to know that I have some supporters in the APRC.This is reassuring, that I am at least presenting both sides of the argument. It is also reassuring that some of my concerns and predictions have born fruit. Our Prime Minister is in the newspapers today explaining that the Global community faces three main challenges. High food prices. Record energy/oil prices and the credit crunch. My article on these pages of the 25th June....examines these particular issues.

I have also pointed out the disincentive in the Gambian civil service. This is now being reconstructed under the guidance of Musa Bala Gaye and Omar Sallah.I have made several commentaries regarding food production in The Gambia. This is now high on the Presidents agenda. I have spoken about sanitation in the Gambian capital and Africa as a whole. This now is the focus

of the recent AU summit. I have expressed optimism regarding the better relations between Journalists and Government in The Gambia. This is reinforced by the recent meeting between "The Speaker" and the President of The Gambian Press Union. It is therefore unfortunate that recent criticism's emanating from Gambia towards The Freedom Newspaper, stating that your editorials say nothing good about your country does not take account that you have allowed me to support President Jammeh and his Ministers on many occaisions.Where such occasion merits this...I will continue.

Freedom Newspaper;  What relationship do you expect between Government and the private press?

Transparency and exchange of information. It is right for The President to expect support from the media when he is placing good developments on behalf of the people. It is also requested that issues of national concern regarding the treatment of Journalists and freedom of the press is considered  when it is reviewed as being under threat.

I am greatly encouraged by the recent meeting between Ndey Tapeh Sosseh and Madam Fatou Jahumpah Ceesay.The issues discussed persuade me that The Gambian government is moving in a very good but cautious direction by allowing issues to be raised within the National Assembly and that these can be covered in depth and without hindrance to the press. We will have to wait and see how far this extends and how radical this bold step will become.

I am certain that if Ms.Mcdowell Gaye or Madam "speaker "were to speak on Freedom Newspaper, that this would be respected and greatly encouraged.

Gambians in the Diaspora contribute greatly to the Gambian economy. It is the duty of government to take all concerns "on board".

Freedom Newspaper;  How did you feel when you heard about the attempt on Momodou Darboes Life.

Michael; Knife crime is a very high profile issue in Britain. Since Christmas

18 young people have been murdered in the most perplexing way. The causation for this is difficult to understand. It is therefore an issue that would require a very lengthy analysis, perhaps on another occasion?

Freedom Newspaper; Mr.Darboe happens to be from Gunjur, a village which adopted you as their father and also as a citizen. Why did you move so quickly to give a helping hand to Momodou?

Michael; I franchise with several Gambian Communities. But Gunjur is my blood.

I am certain the local community would expect me to assist any individual no matter what the cost. So many have said to me when I die..they die. This is a huge burden for me that I will always honour and discharge with my last breath.

Freedom Newspaper;  What needs to be done to help persecuted Gambian Journalists scattered in Dakar and elsewhere around the world?

Michael; The cause of such individuals has to be reconciled by The Gambian Government and especially His Excellency The President. I have said this before and I will say it again....I remain willing to further this reconciliation at any time, provided their is a common consensus that all would wish to participate in healing this unfortunate and damaging rift. I respect what Madam Speaker has said....but this journey of reconciliation can only start from The Gambian governments side. They have the authority...do they have the wisdom?

Freedom Newspaper; You recently picked on Pap Saine.What makes you disagree with the Editor?

Michael;  Actually my direction was aimed towards my delight that an honourable member of the National Assembly was asserting his democratic right on behalf of the people he represents. In hindsight perhaps I was wrong to highlight Paps,earlier editorial on the matter. If any offence was caused by this I entirely and unreservedly apologize am a big fan of The Point, the spiritual home of Deyda Hydara.Their editorial quality is by far the highest standard of any Gambian media. I am aware of the respect and brotherhood that persists between Mr Saine and yourself. Perhaps I would have been better returning to an earlier proverb of mine....When two elephants fight. it is only the grass that suffers ?

Freedom Newspaper;  What kind of Journalism do you want to see at The Point and The Observer?

Michael;  I like The Point...The Observer under Ms.McDowell Gaye is yet to have any decernable trends that I can comment on at present.

Certainly, I would hope all Journalists would see that the condition of Dida Halake is considered in the same light as any other Journalist.Freedom of expression..must allow for all opinions even if you don't agree with them.This is democracy in its glory or its sadness.

Freedom Newspaper; Any last words?                                   

Michael; Keep up the good work and protect your editorial mandate and mission statement at all costs.