Dear Editor,
It is not surprising that Stabroek News is as usual creating mischief, spreading misinformation, disunity and personal attacks on senior government officials just days before a national election; this is a well-planned scheme in cohort with their opposition handlers.
Stabroek News continues its unjustifiable attacks on the government’s Grow More Food campaign as published in the editorial of November 14, 2011. I am of the firm belief that the editors and management of Stabroek News are making an extra effort to stymie development and progress in this country by constantly propagating half truths. Stabroek News is making a special effort, moreso their duty to portray Guyana as backward and corrupt – but how long will they live in denial? Guyana today is transformed, transparent, developing and demonstrates respect for our multicultural heritage. Despite all the positives, Stabroek News continues to attack the Grow More Food campaign which has stabilized the prices for fresh fruit and vegetables, maintained and also increased exports, increased farmers’ profits and firmly maintained Guyana’s food secure status.
Stabroek News has its sights set to create and portray its own perception rather than get down to the real facts of the positive impacts the campaign has on the lives of ordinary people, for example, those who benefited from planting materials, seeds, chemicals, fertilizer, breeding animals, technical assistance and other support. The editor (s) needs to go on the ground and see the development and impact of the campaign that transformed the lives of ordinary farmers with opportunities to develop and expand.
Stabroek News is underestimating farmers and taking them for granted, as they do not know about the challenges farmers have to overcome to provide the food that we all eat daily. To discredit the Grow More Food campaign is a slap in the face of all farmers. Hence, the editors and management of Stabroek News bite the hands that feed them.
Additionally, the editor also chooses to take swipes and low blows at Minister Robert Persaud. This kind of personal attack is unbecoming and a display of poor journalistic skills in terms of what an editorial should be, but then again that’s the thinking of the Stabroek News. The Minister has undeniably transformed the agriculture sector over the past five years and Stabroek News has launched a planned attack on him to discredit the good work and strides made within the sector.
But we the citizens of Guyana have seen the changes and know the truth. In concluding, I would like to urge Stabroek News and their political handlers to re-examine themselves for the poor journalistic and biased articles, editorials and other work that they churn out to the public. If we are to progress as a democratic country we need to change our outlook and it‘s either Stabroek News gets its act together or its readership will continue to spiral downwards resulting in its imminent failure.
Yours faithfully,
Shamshudeen Khan