Dear Editor,
Stabroek News on December 12, 2018, along with the Guyana Chronicle; published a photograph released by the Ministry of the Presidency, showing a picture of President Granger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, on the President’s return from Cuba. During his stay in Cuba he underwent medical treatment. Guyana Times and Kaieteur News on the same date, used another photograph of the President that were much more appropriate and reflected the commanding posture and image of our President.
Showing the President with a surgical mask over his mouth, clearly not in the best of health, projecting a state of frailty, with his clothes looking oversized – all due to the Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer that he has been diagnosed with, and subsequent chemotherapy treatment is unacceptable and wholly unnecessary.
President Granger has always presented himself to the Guyanese public in elegantly fashionable and impeccably stylish attire, without being ostentatious. It is beyond comprehension, why the Ministry of the Presidency would allow President Granger to be photographed, while wearing the mask and clearly not in the best of health, it submerges rational thinking to justify taking such a photograph, and moreover, publishing the image. There are many pictures that could be used that reflect President Granger‘s accomplished style of dressing, his look of leadership and his position as President of Guyana.
Hopefully, we will not see such a picture or similar snapshots of President Granger ever again, in any of our major daily newspapers.
Yours faithfully,
Nigel Hinds
Editor’s note: There is nothing wrong with such photos being made available and being published. They reflect the reality of the President’s health challenges.
