Dear Editor,
Much has been said about the role of individuals, associations and organizations in unseating the PPP and bringing the APNU+AFC coalition to power. What is less mentioned is the role of the two ‘independent’ daily newspapers, Stabroek News and Kaieteur News, played in the aforesaid watershed event of Guyana’s political election/history. Undoubtedly, these newspapers (including letter writers and columnists) have been in the forefront in the struggle to unseat the PPP. No other event, however, appears to be more crucial than the SN reporting and publishing of the results from polling stations as they became available. When I checked on the website on a number of occasions, the coalition was winning and this was important and significant because it might have had an impact on those who were undecided voters. These undecided voters might have gone with the winning flow. Never before has Guyana seen such a quick publishing of election results, which I believe, made a difference in the election results. While I commend these newspapers in their efforts, I would like to ask a simple question. What will now be role of these newspapers? They were obviously anti-PPP, and in many respects, lost their objectivity or neutrality. One can understand the position of the newspapers given the stubbornness of the previous administration. One does not, however, have to be a brain surgeon to figure out that these newspapers would receive some benefits from the new government such as ads. Would the role these newspapers play in bringing down the PPP stifle their ability to ask and report on tough mandated questions? For example, how are new ministers elected to office? What criteria are being used? What would be some ethical standards to follow and obey? If we believe in nipping the problems early before it is too late, then now is the time to ask these questions. In some countries, like the US, high level political positions are subject to judicial and public scrutiny.
Finally, the Guyana Chronicle has already published glowing reports of the new government, somewhat similar to the PPP when they controlled this state-owned newspaper. Now, if the Chronicle continues in this way, which is expected because it is a state-owned newspaper, and the two ‘independent’ dailies continue to be pro-government then there would be no independent newspapers in Guyana. I do hope I am wrong on this one.
Yours faithfully,
Lomarsh Roopnarine
Editor’s note
- Stabroek News did not begin publishing the Statements of Poll until these were posted up outside the polling stations. No Statement of Poll could be drawn up and signed off until all the votes had been counted, ie, after the polls had closed. Contrary to what Dr Roopnarine seems to believe, they all closed at the same time − 6 pm. It is nonsense to claim, therefore, that SN’s publication of these results influenced “undecided voters.”
- This newspaper cannot speak for Kaieteur News, but as far as SN is concerned, we have never supported – and still do not support – any political party, and by extension have never considered it our mission “to unseat the PPP.” We remain true to our original principles relating to the political sphere, namely, to function as a watchdog in respect of the excesses, mistakes and wrongdoing of government in particular, and the power structure in general. Dr Roopnarine has no doubt forgotten that in addition to campaigning for free and fair elections, we discharged the aforementioned function for six years when the PNC was in office, and we will continue to operate in the same fashion now that the administration has changed.
