Dear Editor,
The Government of Guyana should end the Stabroek News controversy, and it should do it sooner, rather than later. Being bogged down in this matter detracts from more important business at hand, such as the Rio Summit which is coming to Guyana next week.
Kaieteur News may indeed have overtaken Stabroek News in circulation, and that is indeed one rational basis for increasing government advertisement in KN. But SN is a credible newspaper, and indeed a very good one. It is also widely read.The Government of Guyana is correct in arguing that its decision is not based on the general anti-PPP slant of SN. The evidence for this is that Kaieteur News is equally anti-PPP.
In the last election practically all of the major writers in KN took anti-PPP, pro AFC positions. They have a right to do so, and they did with a vengeance.
The attacks from Kaieteur News came in waves and waves of journalistic bombardment. It did not quite work because the voters know the country more than the journalists.
It must be said that Kaieteur News also has its distinctive merits. It facilitates debates, and gives considerable space to those who have contrary positions.
The bottom line here is that the government should concern itself with more important things. Withholding revenues from Stabroek News should not be one of them.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Randy Persaud
