Cowke Posted October 6, 2009 Somalia: Radio Garowe hosts debate on Puntland progress 6 Oct 6, 2009 - 5:07:27 PM GAROWE, Somalia Oct 6 (Garowe Online) - An independent radio station based Somalia's Puntland State, Radio Garowe, has hosted an hour-long debate regarding the progress made since the election of Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole" as Puntland's fourth president in the historic presidential election of Jan. 8, 2009. Radio Garowe producer Faisal Khalif on microphone The debate was held at Radio Garowe's Studio 2 and moderated by Mr. Faisal Khalif Jama, a senior programs producer at the radio station. The participants were Puntland Education Minister Abdi Farah "Juha," Puntland State University (PSU) Prof. Mohamed Said Samatar and Prof. Ali Abdirahman, who teaches at a university in the United States and is currently visiting Puntland. Minister Juha opened the debate with an overview of accomplishments made since the election of President Farole, starting with improvements in the security sector. "When this government came to power [in Puntland], our security forces were disorganized and this government has reorganized the security forces and fought against pirates," Puntland's education minister said. Puntland's Education Minister on microphone He spoke at length about President Farole's "successful trip" to Washington, D.C., and London, where the President gave speeches at the U.S. Congress and the Chatham House think-tank, respectively. Prof. Samatar, who is an instructor at PSU in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, noted that the new government in Puntland has had many accomplishments but admitted that "much improvement remains," especially in institution-building and the social sector. "More institution-building is necessary in order for this government to continue on the path of progress," Prof. Samatar said. Prof. Ali Abdirahman, who is currently visiting Puntland, told the Radio Garowe program that the peace and stability in Puntland "must be praised," but also acknowledged that more needs remain in the social sector and good governance. "The Puntland constitution gives different powers to the three branches of government and this [division of power] must be evident in the government's actions," Prof. Ali noted. Education Minister Juha said the Farole administration has hired an additional 200 teachers for Puntland public schools and has regularly paid civil servants and members of the security forces every month since January's election. Radio Garowe was established in 2003 by a group of Somali volunteers and intellectuals, both inside Somalia and in the Diaspora. At the time, the City of Garowe did not have a radio station and therefore no access to news and information for the local people living in the capital of Puntland State. Since its establishment, Radio Garowe and its sister organization, GaroweOnline.com, has enjoyed a reputation as a neutral Somali news agency that is widely sourced across local and international media. Source: Garowe Online Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Che -Guevara Posted October 6, 2009 LOL No sh*T Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cowke Posted October 6, 2009 Che-Guevara, i must say the only part i disagree with garowe online is their total obsession on the lines of "Radio Garowe is an indepedent radio program". I think anyone within somalia knows that radio is run by farole son. But they are right when they say that their news is sourced by local and international media. For example allafrica sources garowe-online always. CNN has sourced them also and other somali news portals source them. So their is a bit of truth in that part. However the "indepedent radio" argument, is a whole different story. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
