By Kebba Ansu Manneh
The media fraternity in The Gambia is mourning the death of veteran journalist Suwaebou Conateh. Mr. Conateh served as a journalist in both the electronic and print media spanning over many decades of a distinguished career. He was formerly the Managing Director of Radio Gambia. He became the Managing Editor of The Gambia News and Report Magazine until when he succumbed to death, on Wednesday, 28 November 2018.
Family sources said the veteran journalist have been battling an illness that led him sought treatments in US and the UK. Speaking at the burial ceremony, Pap Saine, the Managing Editor of The Point Newspaper said the media fraternity has endured a great lost in the demise of Mr. Conateh.
According to him, Mr. Conateh set the pace for journalism in the country, adding that Conateh and colleagues sacrificed everything for journalism to survive even under the brutal dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh.
Mr. Saine urged young Gambian journalists to follow the footsteps of the veterans in shaping journalism in The Gambia to become one of the best in the world. He added that young journalists must be ready to take off from where Mr. Conateh and colleagues left off.
In a statement released today after the news of the death of Mr. Conateh broke out, the body representing journalists stated that “The Gambia Press Union (GPU) has learnt with deep sadness and great shock the sudden death of Mr. Suwaebou Conateh, a veteran Gambian Journalist and publisher of The Gambia News and Report weekly magazine.”
The GPU described Mr. Conateh as a rock and a pillar on which Gambian journalism today stands on, adding that as a journalist, he spoke and wrote the truth with bravery, vigor and passion.
The tribute to Mr. Conateh by the GPU continues to say that “as a publisher, he inspired, groomed and guided so many young journalists and championed press freedom and freedom of expression. As a doyen, he helped strengthen GPU and today we are all proud of the union thanks to the likes of Suwaebou.”
The statement by the GPU also described Mr. Conateh as a man of integrity and decency who dedicated his magazine to giving voice to the voiceless and the marginalized on the fringes of Gambian society. The statement concluded stating that “as we mourn his death, the GPU also celebrates his legacy as a principled, brave, professional and very progressive journalist who stood and fought for justice for all.” Mr. Conateh is survived by his family.