Dear Editor,
In developed countries, freedom of the press implies that all people should have the right to express themselves in writing or in any other way of expression of personal opinion or creativity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.”
This philosophy is usually accompanied by legislation in individual countries and is usually entrenched in a country’s constitution. The concept of freedom of speech is often covered by the same laws as freedom of the press, thereby giving equal treatment to media and individuals.
We as a people living in a new democracy since free and fair elections were held in 1992, should try to contemplate how free we are. We should ask ourselves where does Guyana stand when it comes to press freedom? We have seen the boycott of Stabroek News by State Advertisers. GINA on 6th February 2007 cancelled advertising space booked in the Stabroek News for ads for the Guyana Revenue Authority. Can we call that press freedom? Or is it politically motivated to hurt Stabroek News? Such malice and
political hatred is not press freedom in a civilized society. How do we compare ourselves with the rest of Caricom and the Americas when it comes to press freedom?
First we as a nation need to understand that President Jagdeo signed the Declaration of Chapultepec. This Declaration was instituted by the Inter-American Press Association in 1994, a body that represents freedom of the press. The principle of the ‘Chapultepec Declaration’ is a result of a struggle begun by English poet John Milton, in his book Aeropagitica, in which he clamoured for the freedom to write and publish without any official license. The ten Principles of the Declaration of Chapultepec are as follows:
1. No people or society can be free without freedom of expression and of the press. The exercise of this right is not something authorites grant, it is an inalienable right of the people.
2. Every person has the right to seek and receive information, express opinions and disseminate them freely. No one may restrict or deny them these rights.
3. The authorities must be compelled by law to make available in a timely and reasonable manner the information generated by the public sector. No journalist may be forced to reveal his or her sources of information.
4. Freedom of expression and of the press are severely limited by murder, terrorism, kidnapping, intimidation, the unjust imprisonment of journalists, the destruction of facilities, violence of any kind and impunity for perpetrators. Such must be investigated promptly and punished harshly.
5. Prior censorship, restrictions on the circulation of the media or dissemination of their reports, forced publication of information, the imposition of obstacles to the free flow of news, and restrictions on the activities and movements of journalists directly contradict freedom of the press.
6. The media and journalists should neither be discriminated against nor favoured because of what they write or say.
7. Tariff and exchange policies, licenses for the importation of paper or news-gathering equipment, the assigning of radio and television frequencies and the granting or withdrawal of government advertising may not be used to reward or punish the media or individual journalists.
8. The membership of journalists in guilds, their affiliation to professional and trade associations and the affiliation of the media with business groups must be strictly voluntary.
9. The credibility of the press is linked to its commitment to truth, to the pursuit of accuracy, fairness and objectivity and to the clear distinction between news and advertising. The attainment of these goals and the respect for ethical and professional values may not be imposed. These are the exclusive responsibility of journalists and the media. In a free society, it is public opinion that rewards or punishes.
10. No news medium nor journalist may be punished for publishing the truth or criticizing or denouncing the government.
We can clearly see here in article 7 that our Government is in violation of this principle by withdrawing its advertisements from Stabroek News. It is diametrically opposed to that article.
Without freedom there can be no true order, stability and justice. And without freedom of expression there can be no freedom.
Freedom of expression and the seeking, dissemination and collection of information can be exercised only if freedom of the press exists. How free is our press in Guyana? None of my letters were published by the Guyana Chronicle in months because it’s a state owned paper that does not promote freedom of expression against the government.
A free press enables societies to resolve their conflicts, promote their well-being and protect their liberty. No law or act of government may limit freedom of expression or of the press, whatever the medium. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right to information are individual rights, which belong to all individuals, community and society. The violation of freedom of expression and of the press is a violation of democracy, the framework for provision of human rights.
Yours faithfully,
Rev.Gideon Cecil
