Dear Editor,
In recent times I have realised that the Stabroek News is coming in for a “media-bias bashing”.This lopsided view of reporting by the Stabroek News seems to have become even more evident in the run-up to the PNCR congress. I, myself, read the papers daily and realised that there appeared to be a public onslaught, which seemed to be faciliated by Stabroek News, on the PNCR and its leader.
What was strange was that the editor or the reporter/s producing these stories hardly made any attempt to balance the reporting by at least getting Mr. Corbin or the party’s views on many of the allegations his accusers levelled against him and the party.
It was a most disappointing reality by a newspaper many Guyanese have come to think as balanced. Today, however, this view of Stabroek News being balanced is swiftly vanishing. Stabroek News published in that paper’s editorial of Sunday October 7, 2007 another clearly mischievous piece, which according to the editor was based on rumour and gossip.
This rumour it seemed was intended to provoke Guyanese and more particularly PNCR supporters to castigate Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin, whom the editor stated was engaged in talks with President Jagdeo to support him, Jagdeo, for a third term.
I am appalled that the editor had to stoop to such depths to demonstrate an anti-PNCR and Corbin disposition. One would agree that if indeed such important discussions were taking place the Stabroek News would act responsibly and use every effort to contact key parties involved in this supposed deal to verify or clarify whether the rumour can be substantiated.
Anything short of this is likely to render the editorial as irresponsible and unprofessional.
I am disappointed Mr. Editor, and like many others am beginning to question your commitment to unbiased and independent journalism.
A letter writer accused you of only being interested in a PNCR fall-out, as you appear intent on publishing articles which are intended to damage the image of the party. Your response was that you also published letters that criticised Alexander. Maybe you should do the reasonable thing, to give us the ratio of those letters for as opposed to against, over the last six months. Maybe with all this “media mumbo-jumbo” the PNCR should concentrate on printing its own papers daily so that its members and supporters can share their views and concerns.
Finally, I wish to congratulate Mr. Robert Corbin, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the PNCR, for setting the record clear. I have noticed, especially recently, that he seems to have adopted a position of not responding to many of his critics, but I guess he realised the obvious mischief intended by Stabroek News by making headlines of such a vicious rumour. I applaud his sensible approach to this matter and encourage him to be bold in making decisions that will be in the interest of the country and the people of Guyana.
Stabroek News knows as well as other Guyanese that giving Jagdeo a third term cannot be in the interest of the country and people, he and his government have already raped the constitution and even attempting to think of a third term will further degrade it.
If at no other time, the constitution must be upheld. Two terms and no more.
Yours faithfully,
Alicia Edwards
