Dear Editor,
I am deeply troubled with the ongoing attacks emanating from the bowels of the state media on respected individuals who are well meaning in their critiques of government policies – probably an attempt by some elements in the state media to silence every critique no matter how beneficial to the government.
I can’t recall cases where President Cheddi Jagan or President Hinds or President Janet Jagan attempted to silence critics in the state media. But I do know during the Burnham administration, criticism of the government or its functionaries were not allowed in the state media. Thanks to the emergence of the Stabroek News, people could freely express their thoughts.
Dr. Jagan complained about the abuse of the state media when he was in the opposition and vowed to reverse course if he were to come into office. And the state media became relatively free after October 1992 when Jagan became President. Many critical comments of the PPP government appeared in the state organs when Moses Nagamootoo was infor-mation minister. But when Nagamootoo left the ministry, the state media began to lose its limited independence. Today, Guyanese in NY complain about how the state media is being abused in much the same way it was under Burnhamism.
I refuse to believe that President Jagdeo has instructed his media handlers to attack critics of the government (many times under fictitious names). In my encounters with Jagdeo in NY, he never shied away from a tough question or avoided a critic. I went to several press conferences and recall several instances when the President was told that the person asking a question was a supporter of another party, or a heckler in the crowd, or protester from outside (the venue of the meeting), Jagdeo would interrupt and say “let the man speak” or “let him ask his question”. I remembered one particular incident when a person criticized the President and got booed by PPP supporters. Jagdeo intervened: “let the man speak freely”. So why now the censorship, the attacks on others, and the unwillingness to accept criticism no matter how well meaning and even from party stalwarts?
I believe the President has been ill-advised on media matters including on the decision to withhold ads from Stabroek News. Almost every Guyanese, including diehard PPP loyalists I broached on the subject, is opposed to the SN ad fiasco. NY Guyanese are also opposed to the recent spate of attacks on prominent individuals appearing in the state media. I don’t think the government should pursue a policy of silencing critics in the state media or use the state media to attack others. The government should seek to win over people through superior ideas rather than attacks. Debates should take place in a civilized tone so as to allow for a free exchange of ideas and the government should not be resistant to the views of others. The government should recognize that not all critiques are against the government and not all critics are opponents of the administration.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
