The Alliance For Change (AFC) has renewed its call for the PPP/C administration to honour its commitment to support the AFC’s Freedom of Information Bill that is currently awaiting parliamentary approval.
In a press release the party noted that in April President Bharrat Jagdeo openly pledged to have access to information legislation introduced within two months of his pronouncement. “We are now months away from that promise and once again the President has reneged on another promise made to the Guyanese people,” the release. It said too the president and government seem to be “mortally afraid” of instituting any governance reforms.
Meanwhile, the party lauded the Guyana Press Association for recently reiterating its position by demanding that government approve the Bill. The AFC said more stakeholders and citizens need to support the call for greater freedoms as “Guyana’s officials pretend overseas that ours is a progressive democracy, there continues to be, worrying signs of a dictatorship.”
It contended that evidence of such can be seen in the curtailment of citizens’ rights foremost amongst which is the refusal to allow citizens access to information in the government’s domain; and to enjoy greater freedom of choice from radio and television.
For residents of Region Ten this denial of rights is compounded by the stubborn and harsh refusal of the administration to allow them to enjoy television viewership other than that available on the National Communi-cations Network, the party added.
