Foroyaa Newspaper Reporters Complain About Late Payment Of Wages

…"Foroyaa Still Cannot Pay July Wages."

Editor Sam Sarr Says No Comment On Staff Allegations!!

By Our Banjul Bureau Chief, Ansumana Jammeh

Banjul:8/26/08-Thorough investigations conducted by the Freedom Newspaper divulged that the condition of Foroyaa workers, particularly journalists, working at that Paper looks rather precarious, as they still cannot get their wages for the month of July. Although, late payment of salaries, according to well placed sources,  is not a  new thing at the Foroyaa Newspaper. However, the latest delay has left all the Journalists in a state of despair, the Freedom Newspaper, can authoritatively reveal.

   Journalists who have shared their time and spoke to the Freedom Newspaper have expressed shock and disbelief over the state of affairs at their Paper. At the heart of their argument is that they are the bread winners of their respective families and how come they cannot still get what they worked for.

   They blame the management of Foroyaa for not showing concern over their plight and welfare as journalists. According to these rather desperate journalists, the management has failed to do what is required of them.

     Meanwhile, journalists at the Foroyaa Newspaper had  written a letter to the management of Foroyaa, demanding to be staffed by the Paper.” No journalist is a  staff at the Foroyaa Newspaper, only Editor, typist and other workers, but journalists are excluded in their development oriented plans”, said journalists.

     However, the management had responded by saying that they were going to put their demands under consideration. Until at the time of going to Press, the management of the Foroyaa Newspaper  has been tight lip over these demands made by all the journalists working for that Paper. Those demands were made over a month ago.

    Furthermore, Foroyaa reporters have lamented the lack of training and capacity building programmes for them. They criticized the management over its reluctance over supporting the journalists to enhance their journalistic dexterities.

The concerned Forayaa journalists, who wished to remain anonymous also demanded for the immediate resignation of Sam Sarr, who they accused of being insensitive to their plight. The poverty stricken journalists say Forayaa’s non payment of workers wages might affect workers productivity and morale. They say they cannot work effectively in the absence of wages and better working incentives. The concerned workers say giving into account the current economic downturn befalling the country; it would be hard for them to meet their family commitments, without the timely payment of their wages.

The average Gambian journalist earns $100 dollars, wages per month. The aggrieved Foroyaa reporters say the piecemeal wages they received from the paper cannot meet their domestic needs. They called on the management of Foroyaa to settle their unpaid wages.

When contacted for his side of the story Sam Sarr, one of the founding Editors of Foroyaa declined to comment on the story. “I would rather not discuss it with you. That’s my position.” Sam Sarr remarked.

The renowned Editor was informed that the Freedom Newspaper was interested in balanced reporting and deems it absolutely imperative to get his side of the story, before going to press, but Sarr still remained adamant. Sarr  declined to confirm or deny the allegations, brought against him and the Foroyaa Newspaper.