Dear Editor,
It is unbelievable that the Government Information Agency (GINA) has suspended a reporter from covering the President at his office and at State House. The free press has been facing an onslaught of attacks ever since President Jagdeo was re-elected two years ago, if not earlier. First, it was victimization of Stabroek News with the ads withdrawal, then Sharma TV station was closed down, then Kaieteur News complained of harassment, and now Capitol News reporter Gordon Moseley has been barred from the President’s office and home.
The President should not get vexed when he is criticized or when reporters contradict his statements or disprove him on issues. What has happened is harassment of the media. In a democracy, a President must be open to and flexible with the media, including his sharpest critics. No President suspends reporters from his office or prevents them from covering him. The President has resolved the SN issue. He should reverse the Sharma suspension and reconsider GINA’s decision in the Moseley matter.
Yours faithfully,
Derek Sampson
