Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud yesterday objected to what he described as “hostile and misleading” reports by some sections of the media “including the Stabroek News” on his meeting with Buxton farmers on Thursday.
In a press release, Persaud, referring to yesterday’s report in the Stabroek News (SN) headlined `Compensation meeting ends in chaos’ said “Focus was placed on the organized and orchestrated disruption of the meeting, rather than the objectives of the discussions, which lasted for over an hour before being disrupted by elements associated with the People’s National Congress Reform”. He did not name any other media house.
Persaud said that while he acknowledged the media’s independence in relation to reporting on events “this right comes with a responsibility to accurately and objectively represent all facts in the interest of the people”.
He added that some sections of the media seem to want not to point out the efforts of the Joint Services. “One would expect these entities to be more responsible and avoid sensationalizing or manipulating positions and opinions of residents in the Buxton/Friendship area”.
In a comment Stabroek News Editor Anand Persaud said he was quite satisfied that the newspaper’s report was fair and accurately reflected what transpired at the meeting.
The SN Editor said that it was baffling that the Agriculture Minister would want more focus on the objectives of the discussion when it was clear that the meeting was intended to lead to conclusions on what needed to be done. In terms of news value, the collapse of the meeting superseded what it had been summoned to discuss.
The SN Editor said the newspaper was not into managing the news or providing spin and was well aware of its responsibilities. The SN Editor also said he was prepared to assess any part of the reportage that the Minister considered to be inaccurate.
The SN Editor added that the Agriculture Minister was continuing a disturbing trend set by President Bharrat Jagdeo where Stabroek News was being constantly singled out for criticism while all others were spared.
He noted that the ultimate demonstration of this targeting of Stabroek News was the brutal cut-off of state advertising in November of 2006. He said the Agriculture Minister may wish to explain why he did not identify any other media house in his press release.
