2024-05-02 22:42:42
“Free the media”, “More than 500 jobs destroyed” “Freedom of the press is non-negotiable”, these are the slogans that the Union of Press Professionals of Guinea (SPPG) read through the signs during the Festival of Labor celebrated Wednesday May 1, 2024.
Gagged with a red ribbon, in silence, these journalists also performed their parade at Coleah stadium.
For the general secretary of this union structure, the demands remain the same: the denunciation of the destruction of the jobs of press professionals and the restrictions.
“The key message to deliver today is to say because of the jamming of radio waves and the withdrawal of certain TVs from the Canal+ bouquet, we find ourselves with more than 500 jobs destroyed in press companies in Conakry as well as in the interior of the country. So you have seen, we have covered our mouths because the media cannot speak, they have closed our mouths. We ask the authorities to free the media, free the press and free democracy, because democracy is expressed through the media.
This is the first time that journalists have marched under the leadership of the SPPG, this historical coincidence is symbolic. We once again demand the release of the media,” declared Sékou Jamal Pendessa at the end of his parade in front of the official box.
A message underlined by the Minister of the Civil Service on behalf of his Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah.
Minister Faya François Bourouno wanted to reassure the workers and those of the press in particular of the reception of the demands which they will take into account.
“There are recommendations that have been made. Today I also followed the demands of the trade union movement, all these elements will be put together to make a clear road map so that the government can take them into account in its reform measures in order to further improve the living conditions of workers. workers.
To you, friends of the press, as I told you, we want to do better. Contrary to the message being conveyed, we do not want to kill jobs, the government does not want to eliminate jobs in the press world. We want better working conditions and for that we need decent working conditions. We need to formalize labor relations between employers in the press sector and employees in the press sector. Remuneration scales must be enhanced so that employees in the press sector can live on the income they earn from their work in the sector…We have instructed the labor inspectorate so that this work is open. We don’t want to cause harm to anyone. It will be a discussion open to employers and employees so that better working conditions are created in the press sector”
It remains to be seen whether this promise from the Minister of the Civil Service, in line with that made by the Prime Minister previously, will come to fruition in the near future.
Mrs. Cissé