The Guyana Press Association (GPA) on Thursday wrote Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jnr., over allegations of media operatives being debarred from entering the Providence National Stadium.
In the letter seen by this publication, president of the GPA, Nazima Raghubir, expressed the association’s concern over the issue.
“The Guyana Press Association is concerned over statements made to the media by workers of the National Stadium at Providence about their access to the facility.”
It detailed, “On Wednesday, 27th January, a member of the media recounted that he was told by a “groundsman” attached to the stadium, that members of the media cannot access the facility without the expressed permission of Minister Charles Ramson. Additionally, the Minister’s Personal Assistant confirmed this position.”
“Once the groundsman indicated so, then yes, permission needs to be sought,” Ramson’s personal assistant expressed via text while adding “it’s the rule for media access to the Guyana National Stadium- ground – stands – rooms – everything that covers the GNS,” when asked if the ban was restricted to the ground only or rooms.
“Several reporters have since contacted the GPA citing that similar statements have been made to them about restricted access,” stated the GPA’s letter to Ramson Jnr.
Several persons affiliated to the facility have also stated that there is a list of persons, media included, who cannot enter the facility, unless permission is granted by the Minister.
The GPA head indicated that members of the media cover events at several state facilities.
She also pointed out that there is a chess tournament scheduled for this weekend and indicated that the media’s access should be unhindered.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) yesterday told this publication that the body had written to the Minister seeking approval for “players, officials and media staff to cover the event.”
“We hope that the Minister can clarify this situation so that members of the media can access the facility,” Raghubir stated adding that the minister has not responded to the issue raised in the letter directly with the GPA.
Ramson Jnr., has been embroiled in controversy ever since he was given the portfolio of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.
He has banned Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) officials from also accessing the facility claiming the body to be illegal and has reportedly written Cricket West Indies (CWI) on that issue.
The ban of the GCB came after the cricket board stated that they had video evidence to support the contention that the cricket pitch and outfield at the Providence National Stadium, was damaged by the staging of a four-team football tournament sanctioned and sponsored by Ramson’s ministry, the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation and the Guyana Football Federation.
CWI has not responded to this newspaper’s request for their position on the ban of one of its affiliates.
Ramson Jnr., was previously chided by the president of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K. A Juman-Yassin for criticizing sports associations/federations for their stand on athletes participating in unsanctioned tournaments.
Shadow Minister of Sport, Jermaine Figueira, has also accused Ramson Jnr., of political intervention into the affairs of sports associations adding that the Minister continues to make a mockery of democracy and has violated international conventions which are based on the non-intervention in sports by governments.
GPA’s letter to Minister Charles Ramson Jnr.,
The Guyana Press Association is concerned over statements made to the media by workers of the National Stadium at Providence about their access to the facility.
On Wednesday, 28th January, a member of the media recounted that he was told by a “groundsman” attached to the stadium that members of the media cannot access the facility without the expressed permission of Minister Charles Ramson. Additionally, the Minister’s personal assistant confirmed this position. Several reporters have since contacted the GPA citing that similar statements have been made to them about restricted access. Members of the media cover events at several state facilities, there is a Chess tournament to be held at the said facility on Friday and the media’s access should be unhindered.
We hope that the Minister can clarify this situation so that members of the media can access the facility.
