By Nigel Westmaas
In the early days of newspaper printing, the term press referred specifically to the machine used for transferring inked type onto paper, resulting in the reproduction of text or images. As the printing industry expanded and the dissemination of information grew and spread, the concept of the press evolved to encompass more than just the mechanical aspect of printing. It came to include press and radio, as well as the field of journalism itself.
This summary will focus on the Guyanese newspaper press over two centuries, from the first newspaper Courant van Essequebo en Demerary produced in 1793 in the territory now called Guyana, and extending into the 21st century, with a specific focus on the large tabloid press.
During the period of enslavement voices of African resistance arose in myriad forms. Some were heard through actual slave revolts. On a very few occasions before emancipation, the authentic voice of the voiceless made itself heard. This was through an unlikely source—the reports of the Fiscal of Berbice and Demerara-Essequebo. The Fiscal was an important legal and political figure and wielded impressive power. As John Lean and Trevor Burnard (Hearing Slave voices: the Fiscal’s Reports of Berbice & Demerara-Essequbo) point out, the position was a hybrid born of the change from the Dutch to the British system and was kept when power was transferred to the British in 1814. The retentive power of the Fiscal with his written records, however, allowed for the enslaved to deposit their complaints (within limitations) and for those grievances and complaints to be heard, recorded, and in some cases acted on. Although the Fiscal’s reports ended with emancipation and the full transfer to British rule, the former enslaved found new forms of expression, even under the still restrictive society of post emancipation colonisation.
One of the forms of expression that increasingly became open to ex-toilers and the newly emergent, developing post emancipation society was the newspaper. The emergence in 1842, just four years shy of emancipation, of the first black newspaper, the Freeman Sentinel, initiated by the British Guiana African Association was a symbolic moment in the development of newspapers in the colony. Its entrance signified the birth of the black press and the first untraditional newspaper in the colony.
To develop a general understanding of the various stages of newspaper activity and their influence on historical events and societal transformations, it is convenient to categorise the patterns of newspaper activity in Guyana into six overarching periods, while acknowledging that the narrative of newspaper activity in these periods often overlap.
1. Early years (1800s – mid-19th century)
During this era, the political commentary found in newspapers largely aligned with the interests of the local planter class in Dutch and British Guiana and reflected the complexities of colonial society. They acted as a channel through which the planter class could express its grievances, engage in debates, and assert its interests thereby not only helping to shape minority public opinion in a society based on slavery.
Routinely, this included challenging the authority of the English Crown on matters related to the treatment of the enslaved population, economic control, and local constitutional issues that impinged upon legal authority.
2. Emancipation and political awakening (mid-19th century – early 20th century)
In the wake of the abolition of slavery/full emancipation (1834-1838), British Guiana experienced a transformative period marked by the rise of the public sphere and the development of formal political consciousness. During this crucial era with the shackles of slavery broken, the colonial press largely controlled and swayed political and social views, but the formerly enslaved Africans sought to redefine their identities and assert their rights as nominally free citizens through letters and eventually forming their own newspapers as in the case of the ethnic press comprising black newspapers like the Creole, Echo and Reflector among others. There was also a Portuguese press with newspapers such as A Voz Portugueza and O Portuguez. In the early 20th century ethnic organisations like the Negro Progress Convention and the British Guiana East Indian Society also published their own newspapers. In these cases, the press functioned as conduits for generating public discourse, and fostering a sense of collective consciousness among ethnic groups.
3. Nationalism and independence in British Guiana (mid-20th century)
The mid-20th century witnessed a growing movement towards independence in Guyana. During this transformative period, newspapers played a crucial role as influential instruments, either advocating for self-governance or opposing it. While some newspapers like the Daily Chronicle and Daily Argosy conservatively supported the status quo in their editorial opinions, others such as the Thunder, a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) publication, and other non-mainstream newspapers mobilised public sentiment against colonialism and in favour of the
working class. Additionally, trade union newspapers and broadsheets significantly contributed to shaping the discourse on economic and labour issues. Together, these newspapers fueled both the drive for independence and the opposition against it.
By bringing these issues to the forefront, the newspapers galvanised public support and mobilised the masses in their occasionally hesitant moves toward independence.
4. Post-independence era (1966 – 1980s)
Following Guyana’s independence in 1966, newspapers (now shrunk in number to a few dailies making it distinctive from the previous century) continued to play a vital role in shaping the nation’s narrative and reflecting the challenges and aspirations of the newly formed country. Prominent publications such as the Guyana Graphic and Guyana Chronicle emerged as important mainstream newspapers that provided comprehensive coverage of political developments, social issues, and cultural events during this period of “nation-building”.
In 1974, the opposition party the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) made an attempt to publish the broadsheet publication called Dayclean. However, their efforts faced significant obstacles when 10,000 copies ordered and printed in Trinidad were seized at the customs house. Despite a few copies managing to reach the streets, the ruling party at the time, the People’s National Congress (PNC), took the majority of the shipment and set them ablaze in a bonfire.
The Catholic Standard and the Mirror, and later the Stabroek News considered at the time “opposition” newspapers with their emphasis on social justice and community engagement, played a unique role in highlighting social issues and advocating for democracy and on behalf of marginalised groups and interests. The Stabroek News (initially a weekly and then daily publication delved into critical issues affecting the nation, including economic policies, environmental concerns, and human rights. Its nuanced reporting and insightful opinion pieces facilitated a deeper understanding of the complex challenges facing Guyana.
5. The troubled years (1980s – 1992)
The period spanning the 1980s to 1992 in Guyana was a time of significant political tensions and economic difficulties. During this time, newspapers, including the Guyana Chronicle, Stabroek News, and other prominent publications, emerged as vital platforms for critical reporting in conditions of restrictive press freedom and an authoritarian state.
Political tensions ran high throughout this period, with ideological differences and power struggles between political parties dominating the landscape. The ruling PNC and the opposition PPP and WPA engaged in fierce confrontations, which frequently led to social unrest and instability. In this period, under the rule of the PNC there was repression against the press, usually through libel laws and restriction on the impartation of newsprint.
Economically, Guyana experienced significant difficulties during this period. Inflation, unemployment, and financial instability plagued the country, making it challenging for newspapers to operate under favourable conditions. Despite these hardships, media outlets persevered, recognizing the vital role they played in keeping the public informed and engaged.
6. Modern era (2000s – present)
The advent of digital technology and the internet brought about significant changes to the newspaper industry. Many newspapers expanded their reach by establishing online editions alongside their physical publications. Notable newspapers in the modern era include the Stabroek News, the Kaieteur News, the Guyana Chronicle, and newer entrants, the Guyana Times and the Village Voice. In today’s digital age, the rise of social media and online news outlets has revolutionised the way information is disseminated. These new media platforms provide unprecedented speed and reach in delivering news.
However, there are still concerns about what the free press really means in the modern era. One example of such concerns occurred in 2007 when the Stabroek News was punitively blacklisted from receiving state advertisements, raising questions about the preservation of press freedom. Meanwhile, the state owned Guyana Chronicle, under two different political administrations, has routinely rejected content deemed anti-government in its letter columns or editorial opinions, further highlighting the challenges surrounding a free press.
Lists of newspapers
Provided below are lists of the 19th and 20th (including 21st) century newspapers. These listings are by no means exhaustive, and the dates given are the approximate (or actual) year of activity or launch. It is important to note that the following lists of newspapers do not include one-sheet publications, typically of a political nature. Instead, the emphasis is placed on broadsheets or regularly published newspapers. As is widely known (and indicated earlier), in the modern era, physical newspapers are often accompanied by an online version.
19th century newspapers
(Chronological by approximate date/period of publication)
Courant van Essequebo en Demerary (1793) – the only newspaper traced to the 18th century
Essequebo and Demerary Royal Gazette (1796-1802)
Nieuwe Courant van Essequebo en Demerary (1803)
Berbice Gazette (1806-1895)
Royal Gazette (1803-1889)
Guiana Chronicle & Georgetown Gazette (1819-1840)
Demerara Courier & Commercial Advertiser (circa 1834)
Guiana Times (1834- circa 1865)
Guiana Reformer (June 1840- Dec 1841)
Guiana Herald (1841-1843)
Berbice Advertiser
Freeman Sentinel (1842)
Gazette & General Advertiser (1841)
Emery’s Journal (Jan – May 1846)
Mercantile Intelligence (1848)
Colonist (1848-1884)
Guiana Standard (1848)
Christian Monitor (1851?)
The Creole (1856-1879/1903)
Berbice Journal (1862)
The People (July 1865-1866)
Weekly Penny (1867)
Liberator (1868-1869)
A Voz Portugueza (1870) (or 1872?)
Marabunta (1870)
The Watchman (1871-1879)
The Working Man (1872)
Demerara Times (Apr-Dec 1875- March 1877)
Demerara Issues (April 2, 1875)
A Verdade (1879)
A Liberdade (1879)
Daily Chronicle (circa 1851- circa 1906)
The Argosy (1880-1920s)
O Portuguez (1880-1889)
Demerara Daily Chronicle (1881-1924)
The Echo (1884-1899)
The Nugget (1888-1890)
Reflector (1889-1892)
A Uniao Portugueza (Jun 1889-1890)
The Villager (1891)
O Lusitano (Jan, 1891)
Daily Liberal (1891-1894)
Chronica Semanal (Oct 1891 – at least November 1899)
Penny Weekly (Jan-Jun 1892)
Church and Colony (Jan- Jun 1893)
Gold-Mining Gazette (1892-1897)
Monthly Messenger (period of publication unknown) 20th & 21st century newspapers (Chronological by approximate date/period of publication) Creole (Weekly) (1905-1907) New Echo (1907)
Indian Opinion British Guiana East Indian Association (1926) Daily Chronicle (wide period of the 20th century) New Daily Chronicle (1926) Daily Argosy (wide period of the 20th century)
Conventionist (weekly newspaper, Negro Progress Convention) (1937)
Guiana Graphic daily newspaper (1944)
Afric-Guyanese (League of Coloured Women), (1942)
Labour Advocate, weekly newspaper of MPCA 1942
Demerara Standard (1940s)
Sentinel, League of Coloured Peoples newspaper (1950)
Thunder, PPP newspaper (1950)
Democrat (Ayube Edun) weekly newspaper (1950)
Sunday Times weekly political paper (1950)
Mackenzie Miner, Demba fortnightly corporate newspaper (1950)
Torch, United Democratic Party weekly newspaper (1955)
Catholic Standard (weekly) (1956)
Evening Post, Peter Taylor (1957)
New Nation, PNC weekly newspaper (1957)
Independence, fortnightly newspaper of the Guiana independence movement (1958)
Quill, NAACIE trade union newspaper (1960)
Booker News (1960)
Daily Guyana Graphic (1960)
Demba Digest, monthly corporate newspaper (1960)
Sun, United Force political newspaper (1961)
Mirror weekly and bi-weekly newspaper, PPP (1962)
Truth, weekly political newspaper, Muslim community (1964)
Gandhi News (Mahatma Gandhi Organisation) ethno-religious newspaper (1967)
Guiana Observer, quarterly newspaper for diplomats and Guyanese abroad (1967)
Guyana Chronicle, state-owned (1969)
Forward, weekly newspaper Ministry of Information (1970)
Liberator, Guyana Anti-Discrimination Movement (1971)
Green Beret GDF newspaper (1971)
Copper (monthly newspaper, Guyana Police Force) (1972)
Corpsman (Guyana National Service monthly newspaper) (1974)
Konawaruk, Guyana youth corps monthly newspaper (1974)
Caribbean Contact (monthly newspaper) (1970s)
Citizen (daily) (1970s)
Voice of Labour GTUC newspaper (1980)
Stabroek News (1986- present)
Essequibo Eye, Anna Regina RDC (1990)
Fusion, weekly newspaper (1991)
Farmer, monthly newspaper Rice Producers Association (1992)
Guyana Express, bi-weekly newspaper (1992)
Guyana Guardian, fortnightly newspaper (1993)
Berbice News (1993)
Berbice Times (weekly newspaper)
Gurkha (1998)
Muslim News, monthly Islamic newspaper
Dharmic (quarterly Hindu religious newspaper) (1994)
Kaieteur News (1994 – present)
Vision, GGG monthly newspaper (1996)
Good News, Christian religious newspaper (1996)
Linden Voice, fortnightly newspaper (1996)
Dayclean (WPA) (1992-2007)
Guyana Times (2008- present)
Village Voice (2020? – to present)
Sources
Mona Telesford “The Historical Development of Newspapers in Guyana 1793-1975” (mimeo, University of Guyana, Faculty of Arts and General Studies, 1976)
Anna Benjamin, Freedom of Expression and the Birth of Stabroek News, Guyana Publications, 2007.
David Granger & Nigel Westmaas, Guyanese Periodicals. Georgetown: Free Press, 1999.
Nigel Westmaas, A Political Glossary of Guyana, Edwin Mellen press, 2021