Georgetown : The Guyana Press Association ( GPA ) is appalled that the Office of the President resorted to intimidating tactics at a Press Conference hosted by State Officials.
The tactics of the use of a Presidential Guard as pre-emptive action is scary and an ominous sign of things to come. It is particularly disturbing when the Government of Democratic Guyana (GOD-G) and the Ruling Party the PPP have dubbed certain section of the Guyanese media as ‘hostile media’.
AKaieteur News Reporter Neil Marks was limited to two questions on the issue of “acquisition of computers” by the Education Ministry.
The incident occurred at a post Cabinet Press Briefing at which the Minister of Education was present. When Marks attempted to follow up with more questions, he was ignored and a presidential aide instructed another aide to summon Security. Security remained for the rest of the conference and other media were allowed to ask questions.
There was enough time to entertain questions from the members of the media present but the State officials decided that (a) they will limit the number of questions asked by a particular section of the media and (b) use intimidation and maximum administrative delay to prevent such questions. Even if the reporter appeared to have been intemperate in his interventions, today’s resort to having security summoned was a gross over reaction.
The GPA deplores these actions as the GOD-G officials are in fact servants of the people and custodians of the People’s trust. These officials are therefore accountable to the people. The members of media hold the privileged position of access to hold these officials accountable for all actions including sins of commission and omission.
It is becoming clearer that in this election year the ruling party, the PPP and the Government are both becoming hostile to the private media with their onslaught of falsehoods and accusations of imbalance. The GPA rejects this latest attack on local journalists as outlandish and despicable.
