Wearing red armbands to signify their opposition to the banning of Capitol News reporter Gordon Moseley from the Office of the President and State House, journalists walked out of Parliament yesterday just as Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh rose to address the House.
The Guyana Press Associa-tion (GPA) action is the second such and follows a similar walkout from a Ministry of Home Affairs press conference on Wednesday. The action was well supported by media workers from private media houses.
President of the association, Denis Chabrol, and several of its executive members, including Moseley who is the vice-president as well as other media workers left the press tables as Dr Singh was about to move the first reading of a bill.
Asked about the issue as he made his way to the parliamentary chambers, former minister of information and PPP parliamentarian, Moses Nagamootoo reiterated his opposition to the ban on Moseley. “I don’t agree with it, I don’t think that being disrespectful is a violation of any law. I believe strongly in the rights of journalists to earn their living, being able to practise their profession, it’s part of the freedom of the press,” he declared.
He asserted that the ban on Moseley was an “administrative glitch” and it has to be corrected. He argued that if a journalist violated the law then the journalist should be penalized under the law. “I believe that sanctions of this sort is not an answer to issues of fairness and balance in the media or relationship between the state and the journalist,” he stated.
He expressed the belief that journalists ought to be treated fairly, adding that many people were not appreciative of the fact that they do difficult work under difficult circumstances. “They [journalists] need solidarity, not repudiation and not condemnation,” he declared adding that if journalists erred in law, if they committed slander, libel, sedition or otherwise then they should be punished under the law. He said administrative methods should be left to the journalists themselves and if the ethics of the profession are that one should behave with decorum, afford recognition of authority and give respect where it is due, this was something journalists would have to regulate themselves. Pointing to his years in journalism, and his role in several media organizations, he said he was saddened by the action. “I empathise with the victim of this transgression against the work of journalists,” he said.
Meantime, Chabrol said that what has happened to Moseley was symbolic of what can happen to journalists at anytime within the profession. He urged the journalists to remain united and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved. Noting that it was broader than the Moseley ban, the Press Association head declared that any discourse with the authorities must be about improving the relations between the state and the media.
The association has received the commitments of most of the private media houses including Stabroek News, Kaieteur News, the Guyana Times, Capitol News, Evening News, CNS TV6, GWTV News 2, HBTV Channel 9, and Prime News in its protest against the ban. The GPA has since said that it would “engage in a range of activities designed to send a very strong and clear signal to the administration that we shall not allow our rights to be trampled upon.”
Meanwhile, the main opposition party, PNCR, has also strongly condemned the ban pointing out that coming on the heels of the 17-month withdrawal of state advertisements from Stabroek News and the suspension of Channel 6’s licence, it should be concluded that “the strategic aim of the PPP, to dominate and control the media is alive and well.”
The party noted that Moseley has long been a target of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s ire, recalling an incident before the hosting of the ICC Cricket World Cup where the journalist had asked a question which caused the President “…to explode. This along with his reporting of the [Guyanese drug accused in the US) Roger Khan saga, has not endeared him” to the Office of the President.
The party said at its weekly press briefing that the fact that other members of Capitol News were allowed to enter OP and State House to cover events meant that the Jagdeo administration is trying to determine, the editorial policy of Capitol News, by deciding which reporters can attend events at the Office of the President and State House.
The party said such a move should be “vigorously opposed by the media” adding that the ban can only “further undermine any semblance to a culture of democracy in Guyana.”
It said the local media corps has an obligation to itself and the nation to defend the right to freedom of the press, which includes the “right to question any politician, however powerful he or she might believe himself or herself to be and to publish such information.”
Moseley was first told he was banned by a security guard at OP when he turned up for an assignment last Monday. He later received a letter signed by Head of the Government Information Agency (GINA) Neaz Subhan stating that the administration of GINA had withdrawn his accreditation to OP and State House with immediate effect. The letter said that though other employees of Capitol News would not be similarly prohibited, GINA would be “inclined to review the decision providing that you issue an apology in relation to the disparaging and disrespectful remarks couched in your letter to the press.”
Moseley has since refused to apologise saying that he would not allow anyone to “waste his time.” He has also questioned what accreditation GINA was withdrawing since no accreditation had ever been given to him or any media worker for OP and State House. The only accreditation GINA has issued to the media is a press pass that gives journalists permission to go past police cordons.
Meanwhile, last evening, GINA reiterated its position on the matter and accused the press association of a “campaign of misinformation”. GINA said Moseley was not censured for any media report critical of the Government but made disparaging and disrespectful remarks in a letter to the Stabroek News of July 9, 2008. “He, therefore, cannot now claim journalistic privilege”. GINA further said that because of these remarks the “Administration of the Office of the President determined that Mr. Gordon Moseley of Capitol News is persona non grata at the Office of the President and State House.”
GINA further said that the “GPA should know that access to the Office of the President and any of its annexes is a privilege granted to journalists and not a right. In view of this, journalists ought to conduct themselves in a manner deserving of such dispensation.”
It added that GINA is inclined to review the decision if Moseley withdraws his disparaging statements to the Head of State in the letter published in Stabroek News of July 9, 2008. It urged the international media not to be “sucked into anti-government propaganda of Denis Chabrol of GPA.”
Mr Moseley will hopefully have a front seat at the trial of Roger Khan what will the Guyana govt do about that,???
The media should adhere to the laws of the land and give respect accordingly.
Members of the government should be respected for the roles they play in advancing programs and policies .Did any established media house or journalist ic organisation publicly protest the “domination and control of the media” when the PNC was in power.You were lucky if you got news print or air time to express your views.If you did you are probably reading this from the other side.SHOW RESPECT !CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY YOU ARE NOT DEALING WITH FAT BOY!
Here we go again…another person who is not even living in Guyana and can only remember what the PNC has done in the past. Well I have news for you. Burnham is dead, the PNC is not in power and in fact hold no real political power even today.
Instead my friend, the PPP is in power and professes the ideals of a democracy. You also seem to not be aware of all the facts or maybe i am not. If i am not please enlighten me. What laws did Gordon Moselel or the current press corp break? Also please expressly state what was disrespectful. I look forward to hearing from you.
Well you know what, kabaka, he is not dealing with fat boy! He is dealing with the administration of the day in the year 2008.
It annoys me everytime we have to deal with a present day issue; we have to hear about what one could and could not do during the Burnham years.
Kabaka, if it was wrong then, it is wrong now! This is the 21st century and we do not have to put up with the same old crap.
Furthermore, this cabal was democratically elected,right? And as such, they need to behave that way.
Nonetheless, you call yourself kabaka (lol).
You need to face reality and stop this nonsense. Guyana is the way it is because of people like you. Blaming someone before taking responsibility for our actions. two wrongs dont make a right. STOP IT, MAN.
What are you talking about, you have a problem with journalist reporting the truth? Forbes is dead and long gone, these are modern times. Try to live in the present and not the pass. In Forbes time there wasn’t local television news cast – as a matter of fact there wasn’t much television at all.
Maybe you should state what laws were broken.
Kabaka, I find that I have to respond to your unfortunate posting here. I may be subject to correction here but it is my understanding that Mosely’s transgression did not arise from him publishing an official news article, rather it was a letter that he wrote to the newspaper? Other than vindictiveness and heavy handedness, explain why he should suffer professionally for an article he wrote in a non-professional capacity comrade Kanaka.
Some of you folks have a counterproductive predilection for rehashing the vagaries of the past administration as justification for present day victimization and marginalization. One, sir/madam simply does not justify the other. Here is another laughable comment you made “…show respect…” Respect is subjective, what I may find as respectful you may find as disrespectful. Who is to say that your yardstick of respectfulness is better than my yardstick or vice versa. What law does a person break if they are indeed disrespectful of the current Government of Guyana?
Slander, libel and sedition are some legitimate transgressions that a journalist may be guilty of. What the current administration considers disrespectful is not a legitimate charge deserving of official exclusion. If this precedent is not met with an appropriate and vigorously animated response, the government will be emboldened and will continue to perpetuate this selective persecution of non-sympathetic journalist. If this current transgression by the Jagdeo administration is allowed to continue unchecked, the unfortunate result will be that Journalist will become apprehensive about reporting on issues or airing views that portray the Government negatively for fear of jeopardizing their livelihood.
Is jus’ me, or is dis scare-tactic exactly what de Jagdeo clan is hoping to achieve. Nah, is mussie jus me!
These persons have been in power for 16 years. Time flies and based on current voting patterns, I dare say they’ll enjoy AT LEAST 20 years in office. When they reach that milestone will they still use ”28 years of dictatorship” as the stock excuse for their own dismal failure to effectively run Guyana, and their own inexorable slide into authoritarianism????
Burnham and Jagan were both COMMUNIST. and Jagdeo is following the legacy of Jagan. So all that you are saying amounts to nothing.
The government talks about democracy, but this behavior is a dictatorship.
Kabaka you are unfortunately nearsighted, furthermore why are you not living in Guyana, Forbes Burnham is no longer in power so you can go and enjoy the “advancing programmes and policies”, it seems like it would be advantageous to you.
In reply to the above comment on July 18th, 2008.
Kabaka,which side are you reading from?’Fat BOY’ is gone but it seems that when-ever the present administration is confronted and their inabilities exposed ‘The Burnham Syndrome’! kicks in. This Government pride itself of restoring democracy to Guyana but continues along the path that undermines freedom of speech.Turn on your T.V.in North America on Sunday Mornings Ch.4 & 7 or listen to govt,press conferences you would appreciate true freedom of the PRESS.maybe these types of programs can help them too.
What laws did this reporter break. ?This govt does not want to be criticize for anything. Having reporters who only agree with your ideas is not good for this country.
Kabaka,Respect given is respect earned,A government of the people should be for the people most recent look at what happened to Mr Yesu Persaud and Mr Oliver Hinkson. What disrespect have they shown?.At a social gathering in New York President Jagdeo aired his concern about good people getting the wrong impression of Guyana and asked journalist to report and I quote ‘I’m appealing to you to be fair .Write both sides of the story’,end of quote. Mr.Moseley now zapped for reporting on both sides,
WHEN these reporter ask any question just say NO COMMENT, this will frustrate them then they show respect or do like the American, DONT ANSWER THOSE REPORTERS QUESTIONS.
The Man broke no laws. Its time for us all to confront corruption and lies and bring this Government or any government that rules this land to full accountability to the people. My brother thats democracy.
Good move. They should do this at every opportunity and even take it as far as to stop coverage of the Government’s activities.
CFO that good move you are talking about means that the reporters are controlled by the gov’t in terms of what to say and not what to say.the gordon mosely ban is wrong, totally wrong!!!. this is a free country we are free to speak our mind but at the same time have respect and do our job in a professional manner. isn’t that the truth?
The problem here, Kabaka ,is that the government claims a return to democracy. There is a wonderful demonstration of democracy in the movie “The American President”. You should check it out.
As I understand the issue, no laws were broken.
i beg to disagree with Moses Nagamootoo .While Mosely did not break any law and it is his right.
Similarly ,it is the executive prerogative to ban Mosely.
Civility cuts both ways.In other countries of democratic norms ,Mosely will be siliently relieved of his position,of reporting from the “national desk”..
if he continues to be disrespectful,nobody civil nerve will listen to him.
national desk”
I disagree with your comments, because in a democracy the president is not the one to pass judgement, it’s up to the governing body of the employee.
Get your fact right!!!!
The wanton use of this ‘Executive Prerogative has cause Guyana to be in such a sad state ,too much petty political tactics it is time to have some type of Civility even at the ;NATIONAL DESK’.Guyana was once a pride amongst other nations in the Caribbean and other parts of the world,what do we have today?Maybe as Guyanese ‘WE LIKE IT SO’.
I call upon the PPP parliamentary committee to discuss and find whether Moses Nagamootoo is flagrantly violating party discipline by openly disagreeing with his own government. President Jagdeo has reiterated that his government is the PPP government, and that the Guyana Press Association is behaving like an opposition party. Mr. Nagamootoo cannot occupy a PPP seat in parliament and serve the interests of the opposition at the same time.
You live in America, you should know better. Democrats disagree with other democrats, Republicans disagree with the President. Mrs Jagan doesn’t always agree with what Jagdeo says. She has no problem with stating how she feels. Why should Nagamootoo be any different?
He’s not oposing the party! Should he sit back and see the wrong thing being done and remain silent? In a democracy you are free to disagree with the govt.
Can someone tell me what was in Moseley’s article that would warrant a ban?
This ban like other things is Jagdeo’s childish mentality coming to the forefront when there are much more inportant things to worry about. Under this administration Guyana has sunk to it’s lowest levels, ever!! What a shame!
I must respond to yasuman71. A minister of government is elected to serve the interest of the people FIRST. He or she has a right to his own opinion and judgement on a matter regardless of whether this is contrary to the party’s stance.
Contrary to this that minster will actually be serving under a dictator.
Get your facts right!!!!,, He spoke on behalf of the press association. And they are not a political party.
most of the time nagamoto is a maverick il ike that.having said that ,but a lot of time his flamin cause is misguided.
Way to go journalists! Continue walking out until the ban is lifted. The President is too thin-skinned. He would not have been able to function if he was in America, where the President is the butt of all late night jokes.
sharma wassssssssss right, these are cowboy ppl. so this make guyana one big pasture. hee haw!!!
Now we getting someplace, the next step is to discard all the government propaganda passed for news. Leave it to GINA & the Chronicle.