Latest update April 16th, 2026 4:35 PM
Peeping Tom – IS THIS A MOKESCREEN?
OF ALL THE THINGS I WEAR MY EXPRESSION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
For quite a few days, the Guyana Times website has been giving prominence to a highly provocative story about this newspaper.
This newspaper has rightly refused to be drawn into responding to this slanderous item which spoke about some Kaieteur terror texting.
It is commendable that this newspaper has exercised restraint. Had this newspaper rushed to take legal action to counter the obvious attempt to smudge its reputation, we would have been accused of high-handed tactics against a rival. We would have been accused of taking advantage of a baby not yet capable of standing on its own.
Kaieteur News was, I believe, correct in not responding since this would only serve to give publicity to the Guyana Times which is no doubt in need of publicity to boost its circulation.
Kaieteur News was wise not to fall into this trap despite the very provocative headline and comments about ethical practices.
In this regard, as far as things go, the Kaieteur News has not been accused of anything. We were simply told that a text message was sent to a certain individual and that the message was sent allegedly from a source using this company’s Internet Protocol (IP) address.
The police came and along with our IT staff went through the system. They also interviewed members of our staff and as far as we are aware they did not find anything incriminating.
The Guyana Times is part of the multi-million-dollar investment at the former Sanata complex.
This column had taken strong objection to that arrangement but made it clear that it had no problem with the investors who obviously negotiated an excellent deal for themselves.
The issue was with the manner in which the government dealt with the matter. As a subject of public interest, this newspaper could not keep silent. Kaieteur News as far as I am aware has no bones to pick with the investor behind the newspaper.
Word had, however, reached us that our comments on the deal had upset persons outside of the investor. We had been told that strategies would be found to deal with Kaieteur News.
This column actually warned about this and urged those contemplating such strategies not to go down that road. I quote from the Peeping Tom column of Tues June 3, 2008:
It is even being rumored that there are persons who are already upset with Peeping Tom and Kaieteur News and that there is talk about a strategy to deal with this newspaper.
I would urge those who may have such inclinations not to go down that route. Kaieteur News is the largest selling newspaper in this country; we have the support of the people of this country and should any strategy be adopted in relation to this newspaper we are going to be relentless in exposing this strategy and those behind it.
Kaieteur News had suffered in the past and suffered tremendously, beginning with a ten-year denial of advertisements. It has endured all manner of conspiracies, threats and physical actions, intended to harm its reputation.
Strange things are happening which lead us to believe that forces are aligned against this newspaper. First there was the alleged terror text. Then pictures from our collection began appearing in other sections of the press. In one shocking incident, a photograph which was taken in April of 2006 by reporter Dale Andrews appeared in another newspaper as a file photograph.
Also, a Kaieteur News photograph of the Leader of the Opposition has appeared in the same newspaper.
We are trying our best to understand how that source could have had access to pictures belonging to this newspaper and for which no request for usage was made.
It could be that all of this is intended to create a smokescreen or a diversion from concentrating on the most troubling issue facing the country at this time – the third massacre within six months. The deaths of these eight miners represent a serious development in this country which should not be swept under the carpet, or from which there should not be any distraction until answers are provided.
I urge this newspaper not to be diverted even as it faces its own security problems. I urge the editor and the staff to stay on the ball, keep focused and especially to ignore those who are simply trying to pull us down.
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