Our esteem readers, we have received a letter from the woman rice grower that accused the Lower Fulladu district chief, Momodou Lamin Baldeh of bribing his lover with a hajj package meant for her. In a letter addressed to this paper, the woman purportedly admitted that the allegations she made against the district chief in the Daily News edition of 4th January is a “cock and bull story.”  
Now that the accuser retracted her accusations, it is important we make our position clear and put the saga into perspective. Our position is that we (journalists) don’t manufacture stories; instead we rely on information given to us by members of the public. As journalists, our duty is to accord people the right to express their opinions. This is why we chose to speak to both the accuser and the chief.
Moreover, we wish to make it categorically clear that our duty as journalists is to publish the truth in good faith without fear or favour. This is the reason why we always move heaven and earth to ensuring that we balance our stories. This is the only way that we can create the enabling environment for free expression to become a reality in our society. Free expression is at a crossroads in this country and as stakeholders in the promotion of this universal value, we all have to play our quota to ensuring that we notch up our objectives.  
Furthermore, the journalist pursues truth in a practical sense and not its absolute sense. This is a process that begins with the professional discipline of stumbling on a tip-off about a potential newsworthy happening, then gathering and verifying the facts. Then, the journalist conveys a fair and reliable account of that newsworthy happening for the benefit of the public. In the presidential hajj package scandal saga, this paper did not fall short of measuring up to this wonderful standard of practice.
To put the saga into perspective, we would first of all like to indicate that The Daily News is here to afford all citizens equal access regardless of age, tribe, race, creed and religion without fear or favour. Every person including the woman in the farthest corner of the country has a voice – an opinion. We have space for her voice.
It is in line with this professional standpoint that when the woman came up with an allegation against the chief, we allowed her to express her opinion. We went further to feel the pulse of the chief on the issue. Members of the public should understand that as journalists, we are not suppose to muzzle free expression. This is why when the woman accused the chief, we deemed it prudent to contact him (chief).
As a news media outfit that owes allegiance to citizens and that puts the larger public interest above any other, we have a social responsibility to report on any issue that is in the interest of the public. The public interest here is that the chief holds a public office. That was why the hajj package was channeled through his office. How he awards the package should be subjected to public scrutiny, especially when there is a claim of foul play.
Now that our reporter is charged with criminal defamation, we condemn that too. And if he is to be prosecuted, we will condemn it. Our position is that we have not fallen short of measuring up to expectations. The Gambia is part of a community. Therefore we should not backslide when others are progressing. We propose that the Gambia should adhere to the standards for free expression set by the international community.