Dear Editor,
If there is one iota of truth regarding allegations of a reduction in the number of government advertisements to the Stabroek News, that must be cause for serious concern for all those who cherish the ideals of a free and independent press.
Regardless of what else can be said of Stabroek News, no one can dispute the role it played in the democratisation of the media landscape in Guyana and for that matter the democratisation processes as a whole. The paper has over the years maintained a reputation as a balanced and professional media outlet which from time to time has incurred the wrath of people on all sides of the political divide.
I encourage the Stabroek News to continue to be the watchdog of society and to expose wrongs in the body politic without fear or favour. This is the true test of an independent press.
I wish to also urge the Guyana Government to immediately restore all advertisements to the Stabroek News in a manner consistent with the norms of fairness and equity.
The time is perhaps ripe to have a clearly articulated and well-defined policy on the distribution of government advertisements based on a number of objective criteria such as content, circulation and reach. The placement of government advertisements should not be done in a capricious and partisan manner as currently seems to be the case.
Yours faithfully,
Hydar Ally
