Dear Editor,
As if to save some grace through a delayed pang of journalistic conscience, the Kaieteur News of Thursday, July 23, 2009, carried an article captioned ‘Olympic size pool to cost $316M.’ Franklyn Wilson is attributed the credit for the story on pages 2 and 7 of the edition mentioned.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport is somewhat baffled by the sequence and treatment of related articles with respect to the construction of the swimming pool. Indeed, the ministry is left to be suspicious of the Kaieteur News’ motive even as the newspaper purports to be exposing projects which are wasting the taxpayers’ funds.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, the ministry’s political head, is one Minister who strives to be open, even-handed and frank with the media. He is among sports journalists nearly every day, as one of his mandates is to promote and support sport throughout Guyana.
On the afternoon of Saturday, July 18, 2009, Minister Anthony was asked questions about the swimming pool and its construction by no less than three Kaieteur News journalists. He briefed them all concluding with the before-mentioned Franklyn Wilson. Lo and behold on the front page of the ‘Sunday Special Kaieteur News’ (Sunday July 19, 2009) there appeared a large photograph of the site of the pool with captions such as ‘How much has been spent so far?’ and ‘Guyana’s Olympic size swimming pool two years later.’ Not a word was printed from Minister’s conversation with the three Kaieteur News journalists on the previous afternoon! How utterly unfair and deceptive could the Kaieteur News be?
To worsen the issue, on page 25 of the very Sunday, July 19, edition was Editor Adam Harris’ column titled, ‘We are wasting money.’ Among his issues therein was the question of the construction of the pool, but again, with no reference to the Minister’s explanations given the previous day to his reporters.
Instead, Harris wrote about $200 million which “have disappeared” and about a friend of his “immediately” saying that “he was certain that the idea was to find a way to get money into somebody’s pocket.” This was the friend’s opinion with regard to the construction of the swimming pool in question. What price popularity, Editor Harris, under the guise of exposing alleged official wrongdoing with respect to contracts? Is it not a cardinal principle for you and your editorial staff to contact the official involved, so as to have a balanced opinion and story?
The Thursday, July 23 story by Franklyn Wilson is perhaps an attempt to rectify mischief done. However, first impressions count, and perceptions are perpetuated. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport suggests to Editor Harris and his reporter that one interesting area of investigation for them would be to find out diligently, just how contracts are awarded, and the subsequent roles of the contractors, consultants and project implementation units.
It might then emerge for the benefit of all the would-be ‘investigative journalists’ just how money could end up “into somebody’s pocket.” Do not rush to judgment casting aspersions on the political heads or ministerial functionaries whatever the paper’s agenda. Minister Dr Frank Anthony never shies away from being available to honest, professional journalists.
Yours faithfully,
Dhaneshwar Deonarine
Ministry of Culture
Youth and Sport
