The Association of Regional Chambers of Commerce (ARCC) is urging the government to restore state advertisements to the Stabroek News.
In a statement on Friday, the ARCC says the decision to continue withholding the ads from the state and semi-autonomous state agencies is a troubling development it is seriously concerned about.
"ARCC finds this… troubling and a return to the dark days of the muzzling of the press and the suppression of freedom of expression," it said. "Stabroek News is a highly credible and popular newspaper which is read by a large number of Guyanese taxpayers who have a right to view public sector advertisements in a paper of their choice," it added.
The ARCC says the reason advanced by government for the cut off of advertising is "spurious and frivolous" and as a result it urged the government to restore the ads. It also urged the business community and private sector organisations to support the newspaper and to ensure that it remains "unmuzzled and commercially viable."
Ministry ads to Stabroek News ceased in November last year and since then other entities including the Guyana Sugar Corporation and the Guyana Power and Light have followed suit.