Dear Editor,
We once asked “who is in charge of this country?”. Now it seems that we have a President who is not only “in charge” but more often than not makes decisions with absolute finality, seemingly oblivious of citizens’ rights and the consequence to the nation. Kind of ironic, isn’t it?
Remember the adage “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Is this the case with the decision to suddenly pluck ministry advertisements from Stabroek News”?
Is President Jagdeo trying to “spite” this newspaper for being justifiably critical of his style of governing and some of his policies?
When the President and the PPPC time and time again proclaim that they have restored democracy to this country, right or wrong, no one questions them. But it seems that they have forgotten that for democracy to be sustained and become a way of life, people and organizations must be free to speak out, to express themselves whether in support of or by criticisms against, or either individually or through the media, without being afraid of losing jobs, benefits, or being discriminated against in any way.
Comrade Janet Jagan understands this and has publicly subscribed to this fundamental principle of democracy: “I may not agree with what you say, but I shall die for your right to say it”.
President Bharrat Jagdeo is also right. He is the President and Mrs. Jagan is just a citizen. But herein lies the paradox. Is it not the citizens of this country who gave that position and power to Mr. Jagdeo?. Isn’t he supposed to use his presidency to govern for and behalf of the citizens of this country? Isn’t the President the president only because the citizens of this country made him so.
The sudden and apparent unjustified withdrawal of advertisements from Stabroek News by the government smacks of “spite”, and may be reasonably construed as an act to suppress freedom of expression. It is tantamount to an act of a dictatorship- something we so abhorred and cried out against prior to 1992.
It is as if the satirical story in the book “Animal Farm” by George Orwell is now being played out in Guyana before our very eyes. We must put an end to it.
There is no need for apology. Just do that which recognises the rights of all citizens of a democratic Guyana. Let an independent body conduct an audit of the circulation of the three major newspapers, the Chronicle, Stabroek News and Kaieteur News for the sole purpose of allocating advertisements funded by taxpayers money.
Yours faithfully
Shawn Mangru
