It just had to be one of the early issues of this year’s elections campaign. Because it has relevance to the fairness element of the “free-and-fair” elections the more “democratic” of societies clamour for.
Yes, I mean the role (and use) of the media at these times. Expectedly, the opposition contenders – with their own sympathetic commentators, activists, even editors – focus on the use and function of the state-manipulated media. (Funny, the state – read “government” – “owns” or controls media on behalf, of course?), all the people! Even to the extent of disseminating much that incenses or stresses out those same “people”).
Today, I merely offer my three-cents retrospective and current observations on the role of all media during election time in our big, beautiful, blighted Guyana.
Papers earliest, anti-PPP
The historian/candidate/veteran Granger is well placed to tell us the role of the rigidly colonial newspapers – little radio, no TV then – when only the master class campaigned and could vote.
I’ve read his accounts of how the planters, the then colonial administration, the British government – the Crown – and later local publishers used what press was there to press their cases.
But I was old enough to listen to Cheddi Jagan and Brindley Benn, Janet and Cedric Nunes, as they told the world of the real or perceived role the local, unfriendly “right-wing” anti-communist newspapers were playing, to undermine their government(s) of ’57 and ’61 to ’64 especially. Naturally, the PPP hated the Chronicle especially since it was pro-United Force of Peter D’Aguiar and Christopher Nascimento, Elinor da Silva and Ann Jardim. (I liked, as a teen non-voter, the UF’s glitzy elections campaign meetings, incidentally.)
It turned out that the Jagans were not too far wrong about the Chronicle’s mobilisation role and consequent events. Strange how today’s Chronicle has turned out, staying its PNC/Burnham/Hoyte course to be almost rabidly pro-government. Less strange to me, frankly speaking, is how the government’s fulminations against the Stabroek and the Kaieteur now resonate within the seemingly-concerned corridors of power.
To me, sometimes the more history changes, the more it remains the same. People and positions are really the forces that contend with history’s machinations. Strange though, it is people who influence “history”.
Media-elections 2011
Poor me. I’m still barely computer literate. My colleagues have to guide me through the internet, the social networks, the blogosphere – viral media?
Much of the election action will be in that world – wide web of an electronic global theatre. So guess what? Allow me to limit my few remarks about the media I still know: radio, TV, newspapers.
Already much has been written – and spoken – about the role of the state media in upcoming elections. State media? NCN TV and radio, Chronicle newspapers, right? Pro-governmet media? Channels 65 and 69? TVG28? Mirror? Let me exhibit an early cop-out having worked in and for the “government media” between ’80 and ’92. By stating I know full well that the PPP/the government will use NCN and Chronicle for all they are worth. Formula or no formula to “accommodate” the other electoral contestants – code or no code!
Guess what? I hold the view, firmly, that in this type of society, unless sustained, aggressive local protest is mounted along with international interventions relevant to the media issue, all other incumbents would utilize and manipulate the people’s media as they see fit. I know that that does not make it right – but discuss.
No more “analysis” needed. But perhaps two local agencies, not at all popular amongst the opposition, may still step in. The ERC and GECOM.
Our Guyanese terrorists…
No regrets from me about Obama’s taking out of Osama. I do hope that the documents and other materials acquired from the house lead to additional consistent captures.
The al Qaeda world-wide terrorists cells are largely now autonomous. The everlasting objective must be to neutralize them now that their major inspiration is no more.
Looking like an old retired terrorist as I might appear to American Immigration and Security at JFK, New York or Orlando, how can I convince those serious dudes that I do not condone what they know about Adnan el-Shukrijumah, Abdul Kadir or Roger Khan.
Poor me again. I need to let the Americans know that I detest Shukrijumah as Operations head of al Qaeda. He is more Saudi Arabian and Trinidadian guys. Forget about his father being born in British Guiana. And former PNC Parliamentarian Abdul Kadir now has no luck! He’s serving life and his Gaddafi is being kept busy.
Roger Khan is one of the reasons I don’t take Guyana tamarind balls or sugar cakes for my USA-based daughters anymore. Our Guyanese couriers have tainted everything innocent persons like me want to carry to New York. So you see Americans, I dislike those three Guyanese even in this post-Bin Laden year.
Additionally, State Department, please note that the Russian-trained Economist PPP Candidate Ramotar, welcomed Osama’s death. And our PNC retired Brigadier is bullish on security and getting drugs dudes. Even some retired Guyanese soldiers now in the US whom he should know about. So please understand President Obama, I am mighty pleased that, despite your Islamic second name, you stand tall now, for eliminating an Evil which embarrassed genuine Muslims. So please for a visitor’s visa. And please let me through your airports after I’m undressed and scanned.
Thanks a lot!
Ponder …
*1) Again I state: if the newspaper editors dis-allow about eight (8) regular election-campaign letter-writers from being published almost daily they would become more paranoid and their blood pressure would soar!
These guys are allowed to debate what amounts to many columns per week! Discuss.
*2) Let’s review GAWU’s Komal Chand’s May Day address next week.
*2b) I wrote respectful letters to three top officials of a Government ministry, that has to do with moulding good behaviour, many weeks ago. Not even a note of acknowledgement, much more a response. And poor Miss Joyce Sinclair wonders about our civility – our “manners”?
*3) Just as the PNC accommodates a few baby parties, do youngsters know that the PPP’s Nanda K. Gopaul, Leslie Ramsammy and Manzoor Nadir – – all headed their own baby parties? Like Good Old Sheila Holder?
*4) Yesterday was the Arrival Day of the East Indians. Guess who else, which other groups, “arrived” in May?
Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
