In a press release in The Point newspaper yesterday, the GPU stated that "The Executive Board of The Gambia Press Union would like to seize this opportunity to remind all that only fully paid up members have voting rights."

Thirty one journalists at the Daily Observer completed their membership forms and paid their application fees on the 21st February 2008.

These applicants have not heard anything from the GPU about their application. Another GPU congress is only 12 days away.

The Daily Observer contacted Mr Madi Ceesay, the chairman of GPU, yesterday. Mr Ceesay said that "the GPU Executive will meet very soon, certainly before the GPU congress" to "consider the applications" and decide on "who can become members" and thus have the power to vote.

The question for all media houses and the GPU is this: Once these applicants are approved, will their annual membership be processed on time for them to be allowed to vote at the GPU congress in 12 days time?  As it is, they cannot pay their annual membership until their application is approved.

When will the GPU Executive approve these applications? One day before the congress? Or in the next two days so that the approved applicants can pay their membership fees and vote at the congress. We also understand that some journalists applied six months ago and have yet to hear from the GPU.Some say their names completely disappeared from the GPU register!

What about those whose membership applications are turned down by the GPU Executive? Will they have time to appeal that decision before the GPU congress?

Mr Ceesay had this to say yesterday and he insisted that the Daily Observer quote him correctly: "We are mature and responsible people who will give enough time to applicants to become members."

When the Daily Observer added "and to vote at congress", Mr Ceesay said: "You are putting words in my mouth."

So, here again is the quotation with which Mr Ceesay is happy: "We are mature and responsible people who will give enough time to applicants to become members." We hope for the sake of the GPU and its members this promise is kept and all are allowed to vote at Congress.