The Guyana Press Association (GPA) yesterday welcomed President David Granger’s declaration that the government won’t interfere in the state media.
In a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day today, the GPA said it welcomed Granger’s “unequivocal commitment to guarantee a conducive environment especially in the publicly-funded Guyana Chronicle and National Communications Network (NCN) – an environment that is free from harassment and editorial dictatorship by the political directorate. We trust that such a commitment will realize the end of decades-long political interference in the media.”
The GPA was referring to a statement that Granger made on April 29 while addressing a GPA workshop on suicide.
On April 13 this year, the GPA wrote to Granger alleging interference in the state media by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Director of Public Information (DPI) Imran Khan. On April 25, through the DPI, the government rejected the concerns raised by the GPA.
Delivering his address to the suicide workshop on April 29 and without referring to the GPA letter, Granger said, “The Government of Guyana is committed to the promotion of a high degree of media professionalism. The administration will not undermine the professionalism of state media workers by subjecting them to political direction or interference in their work. “The administration is committed also to non-interference in the independent media. Independent media act as watchdogs of government. They promote transparency by ensuring that information is provided to the public on the work of government. They are a source of valuable feedback on the effectiveness of the efforts of the government. There is no good reason for the State to interfere in the work of the private media.”
The GPA in its statement yesterday called on journalists to take advantage of Guyana’s Access to Information regime by putting it to the test to “release major aspects of otherwise confidential decision-making by the Guyana government regardless of which party is in power.”
The GPA noted that Guyana is joining the rest of the world in observing World Press Freedom Day 2016 at a time when the Racial Hostility Act has been used in Guyana to institute charges in a case on social media.
It pointed out that it has made submissions on the Cyber Crime Bill for the decriminalizing of defamation via the use of cyberspace. The GPA said that it believes that if the legislation is passed in its current form, it could potentially be used to criminalize defamation via the Internet. The GPA added that it is extremely concerned that if its submission to remove this provision is not adopted, Guyana would enact a provision that appears to be in direct contrast to the abolition of criminal defamation in several Caribbean and other countries.
“Taken together, these have wider implications for press freedom and freedom of expression because those laws can be opportunistically utilized to suppress thoughts through Internet-based media such as news and current affairs websites and members of the wider public who comment on journalistic content via Social Media. At the same time, the GPA urges its members and the wider Guyanese public to recognise that Freedom of Expression is circumscribed by limitations in the public interest and must not be used irresponsibly to the detriment of others,” the GPA stated.
The GPA said it looks forward to strengthening collaboration with Caribbean and international organisations in creating greater national awareness about access to information, legislative impediments and likely technological barriers as the media in Guyana transition to Internet-based platforms.
