Dear Editor,
Reference is made to Mr Sherwood Lowe’s `Election campaigning and columnists’ (SN Oct 10) and Mr Earl Hamilton’s `SN should act to preserve its independence’ (SN Oct 12). Both writers called on the paper to discontinue the columns of Messrs Ralph Ramkarran and Henry Jeffrey because of their affiliation with the opposition ANUG party that is challenging the coalition in March’s elections. Ramkarran is Presidential candidate while Jeffrey reportedly holds an executive post. Lowe and Hamilton, both known supporters of the coalition government, feel that the columnists should resign, and if not, SN should suspend their columns until after the elections. Or if not, then the other Presidential candidates and or parties should be given equal time at SN.
It is noted that the political parties or candidates themselves have not complained about equal access or asked for the removal of Ramkarran and or Jeffrey. They must have recognized the idiocy of the request.
Ramkarran and Jeffrey are respected longstanding columnists; readers look forward for their columns. They merely critiqued government and official opposition party’s positions and or their policies. Ramkarran and Jeffrey did not use their columns to advocate or promote their party and its policies. Their columns are party neutral, and they have maintained their professionalism and decorum as objective and balanced columnists. Never once have they called on readers to support them or their party. Contrast that with government officials and their use of the state media.
Lowe and Hamilton should take their argument or request or advice to SN to its logical conclusions — those affiliated with the government (President, PM, Ministers, etc.) and seeking election or re-election should resign their positions to give a level playing fields to all parties and Presidential candidates. Failing that, then all other parties and or candidates should be given equal time to govern the country during the remaining election period.
And how about equal access to the state owned and controlled media? Do not Lowe and Hamilton find it fair for all parties and candidates to be given equal access to the state media? Have they lost their voice? On the issue of fairness on media access, just like the ruling coalition, shouldn’t the opposition parties and candidates also appoint officers or columnists for the state media or also to control it over a period of time during the election campaign?
It is hypocritical to call on SN or any other private media to be balanced, neutral and politically unaligned but stand silent when the state media is almost totally subservient to and focus almost exclusively on one political force. The state media has given exclusive coverage to the government alliance seeking re-election and denying all other parties space to present their case for consideration by the electorate.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Vishnu Bisram
