Dear Editor,
When the government decided that it was going to save the taxpayers’ money by ensuring that it placed advertisements in a prudent manner the spokespersons for the government said that the way to go was to place those advertisements in the newspaper with the widest circulation. These spokespersons also said that the government in its wisdom recognized that it also had a responsibility to place these advertisements in the government-owned media entities so the Guyana Chronicle and Sunday Chronicle were immediate beneficiaries.
After almost two years and the involvement of the various watchdog organizations and media associations, the government decided to rescind its earlier decisions and allow the advertisements to be placed in pretty much the same manner that operated prior to the controversial decision.
But for all this, one never expected that the day would come when the government would place advertisements in a newspaper that was barely on the radar as far as readership was concerned. And the political opposition has been remarkably silent.
Toward the end of last week, there appeared in the Guyana Times fifteen whole-page advertisements in full colour (and I accept that the Guyana Times is full colour so whatever appears would be in full colour). I scanned the other newspapers but failed to find any of these 15 whole page advertisements there.
There have been no questions raised about this situation although the bias in favour of Guyana Times was so obvious. It must be a case that the other newspapers are so beaten that they prefer to remain silent but then again, I would expect that they are the ones who would champion the cause in the event of any breach of protocol, any wrongdoing on the part of the people elected to rule this country, and surely in the event of anything untoward.
I hope that the advertisements were published free and that the Guyana Times was doing someone a favour.
They were all advertisements dealing with Carifesta and they came on the eve of the opening ceremony.
If indeed there has been a change in policy then that must be stated. I expect an explanation for the appearance of the 15 full-page advertisements in the Guyana Times, the newspaper with the smallest circulation in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)
