Dear Editor,
Below is an edited version of a letter sent to Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud on the application of the Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23.01:
“I wish to draw to your attention several publications in the media in recent times which constitute a clear violation of the Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23:01.
“Most glaring among the infringements are the following:
“1. On a programme styled, ‘Alliance on the Move’, aired on DTV Channel 8 on the 28th day of February, 2015, Mr Veersammy Ramayya made statements labelling the People’s Progressive Party/Civic an ‘Indo-Guyanese party’ and indicated that it was conducting a campaign against Afro-Guyanese. He proceeded to make several unfounded statements in that regard while peddling untrue information of a very racist nature.
“2. The Kaieteur News in its headline on page 1 of the edition of the 10th day of March, 2015, read ‘Rohee endorses Jagdeo statement that PPP is a “coolie people” party.’ There was no article corresponding to that headline.
“On Wednesday 11th of March 2015, Dr Jagdeo complained to Mr Adam Harris, the Editor of Kaieteur News, about the above headline and enquired why he allowed such a false and racially charged headline to be printed. Mr Adam Harris’ response was that he had a different headline for publication but the owner of the Kaieteur News, Mr Glenn Lall, intervened and personally directed that the headline be changed to the one that was published.
“The Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23:01states as follows:
“2 (1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if he wilfully excites or attempts or excite hostility or ill-will against any section of the public or against any person on the ground of their or his race-
“(a) by means of words spoken by him in a public place or spoken by him and transmitted for general reception by wireless telegraphy or telegraph;
“(b) by causing words spoken by him or by some other person to be reproduced in a public place from a record;
“(c) by means of written (including printed) matter or pictorial matter published by him.
“(2) For the purpose of this section, the proprietor, printer, publisher or editor of any newspaper, or the printer of any other printed document, in which any particular matter has been published, shall be presumed himself to have so published that matter unless he proves that such publication was made without his authority, consent or knowledge and did not arise from want of due care on his part.
“In the circumstances, I wish to invite you to carefully investigate the foregoing instances with a view to preventing a further breach of the said legislation. I am ready, willing and able to facilitate statements and other relevant documentation in support thereof, upon your request.
“All for your information and urgent attention.”
Yours faithfully,
Zulfikar Mustapha
Executive Secretary
People’s Progressive Party