Main opposition coalition APNU today lambasted state television NCN over claims that its reporters had been recently harassed by APNU officials.
The NCN and APNU releases follow
NCN release
The National Communications Network (NCN) Incorporated condemns in the strongest possible terms, the constant harassment of its operatives by known activists and senior members of A Partnership of National Unity (APNU), during its ongoing Public Meetings, particularly in Region Four.
NCN wishes to bring to the attention of the public, the clear agenda of the APNU to intimidate our journalists and other operatives.
Below are a few recent cases of intimidation of our employees by APNU:
- On Wednesday, October 1, 2014, during an APNU Public Meeting at Kool Circle, Laing Avenue, Georgetown, Executive Member , Ms. Volda Lawrence, while addressing a public meeting, claimed that NCN’s reporter and cameraman were following her and Mr. Winston Felix “all night” so that they can record them and “take it to Rohee so he can talk about it on TV”.
- Also on the same day at La Retraite Primary School , West Bank Demerara, where Opposition Leader David Granger was the main speaker, another NCN team arrived to provide coverage of the said meeting but was accosted by three women who enquired which media house they represent. Upon learning the team was from NCN, they were rudely told that they cannot enter because they were representing NCN.
- On Thursday, October 02, 2014 at the Bagotville Community Centre, the NCN team was identified and called out by APNU supporters. Subsequently, Chief Whip of the Opposition and Executive Member of the APNU, Amna Ally prevented the team from entering the venue and threatened that if they do, she will embarrass and expose them. Prior to this incident, the NCN Cameraman was identified by supporters of the APNU, who called out to Mr. Basil Williams informing him that he was being filmed. The NCN reporter was forced to beg APNU officials that her colleague is not harmed.
- On Friday, October 3, 2014, at Middle Dam, Pouderoyen, as the NCN team arrived to cover another APNU Public Meeting, the party’s supporters yelled “watch them coming…NCN”. The team was subsequently told it cannot cover meeting.
NCN condemns this kind of harassment and threat from members of the APNU, including its executives, which will only put at risk, the lives of honest and hardworking employees of the entity.
Further, we wish to advise Ms. Volda Lawrence that NCN is not aligned to any political party nor is it an organ of any political party.
It is important to note that on one hand, the APNU continues to accuse NCN of not providing coverage to them and on the other hand, sought to evict the NCN team from its public events.
NCN believes these recent acts of intimidation and attacks on our journalists are a direct threat to press freedom in Guyana and a violation of Article 23(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment…”
Additionally, NCN wishes to call on the Minister of Information, His Excellency, President Donald Ramotar, the National Assembly of Guyana, the Guyana Press Association, the Independent Media Workers Association of Guyana, the Diplomatic Community, Political Parties, the Guyana Human Rights Association and all other stakeholders to condemn this dastardly act by the APNU, which seems to be on a campaign to drive fear in our staff.
National Communications Network Inc.
APNU press release
A Partnership for National Unity-APNU calls on the National Communications Network-NCN to take the beam out of its own eye…..
APNU find the recent press release by the National Communication Network- NCN accusing the Partnership of harassment to be ludicrous, disingenuous and mendacious.
APNU recently had cause to ask two reporters to leave a meeting after they intentionally lied about their media affiliation; a cameraman claiming to be Dillon Sampson from Capitol News and a reporter who identified herself as Olivia Rose were asked to leave when it was determined that they were not from Capitol News but from NCN. This incident occurred at a meeting that was not open to the public and the unethical falsification of credentials by the NCN crew was reported to the management of Capitol News.
APNU finds the claim by the NCN that- ‘NCN is not aligned to or is an organ of any political party’ to be a fallacy and laughable. It is a fact that NCN operates as an organ (mouth –piece) of the Peoples Progressive party Civic administration. It is a fact that the NCN has an institutional policy that refuses to give equal time or coverage to opposition parties in Guyana. It is a fact that NCN’s coverage of political and national events is biased.
In 2012 the Leader of the Opposition had cause to write to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the President of Guyana to complain about the quality and biased character of reporting by NCN; at that time APNU threatened to exclude NCN unless they were more balanced in their coverage. In 2013 and 2014 the practice of gutter journalism and disinformation by NCN continues- nothing has changed.
APNU sees the current accusations being made by NCN as part of the executive war on the legislative branch. In a dossier titled ‘The Executive War on the Legislative Branch’ APNU listed 90 cases of biased reporting in favour of the PPP-C administration, that list continues to grow.
APNU warns NCN and the PPP-C administration that it will not accept this level of reporting, because it deprives the people of Guyana the right to the truth.
APNU affirms that there is no place in the modern media for the lopsided reporting and the daily attacks which are levelled against the opposition by the PPP-C administration through it’s ‘mouth pieces’ – The National Communications Network; The Chronicle and the Government Information Agency- GINA.
APNU say to the National Communications Network-‘Hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye; and then thou shall see more clearly to cast out the speck from someone else’s eye’.