The media have a crucial role to play
Stabroek News
March 15, 2004
Dear Editor,
It is widely understood that the role of the press is to responsibly inform and educate and to encourage the practice of democratic norms for a well- ordered society.
While all of our media and press institutions must be commended in some way for the work they are doing, I am constrained to single out the Stabroek News for its superlative journalism, (notwithstanding its failure on many occasions to publish my letters). Unlike its counterparts it has availed itself as a think-tank for a democratic society such as ours.
It is imperative that in such a society there must be established channels and forums open and free to which information can be sent and received as to how the country is governed and what is happening on a day-to-day basis.
On GTV evening news of Monday March 1, 2004, the US State Department report on Press Freedom in Guyana was not accurately reported. It was reported that the US State Department report stated that the Guyana Government for 2003 respected the freedom of the press. What in fact the report stated is that the constitution provides for freedom of speech and the press, and the Government generally respected these rights in practice. However there were complaints of interference in the electronic media.
In late December 2002 on the recommendation of the Advisory Broadcasting Committee the government temporarily suspended the licence of two television broadcasters, HBTV Channel 9 and CNS 6. In each case the suspensions were in response to what was considered irresponsible broadcasting by the stations.
It is public knowledge that the Government will castigate anyone including its supporters who choose to speak out in public against their inability to properly govern the country. Stabroek News has not and will not escape castigation.
If we can reminisce back to the 1997 post-election disturbance in which the situation had required the intervention of Caricom apart from the three wise men's delegation. This followed the visit by Grenada Prime Minister Sir Keith Mitchell, then Caricom's Chairman. To culminate his visit he hosted a press conference at the Ocean View Hotel and when he was asked to comment on the political deadlock, his reply was, given the political culture and ethnic voting pattern in Guyana he has not seen a third political force creating any real change. However, he said, "You the media by your reporting have a crucial role to play in bringing about an amicable solution to the peoples of your country".
In this context, I see the Stabroek News availing itself as a Think-Tank for our society. Eighty per cent of our population are poor and illiterate and so are not readily privy to critical information.
I urge you to expand on the task you are doing.
Yours faithfully,
Colin Ross