Government advertising policy comes under question

Apr 12, 2009 News

Eyebrows are being raised about Government advertising policy following the publication of two whole page advertisements that appeared in the March 31 edition of the privately owned Guyana Times newspaper.

The two advertisements were from the New Guyana Marketing Corporation and the Guyana Forestry Commission and paid tribute to the former President Janet Jagan who was cremated on March 31, last.

None of these advertisements appeared in any other newspapers, including the state-owned Guyana Chronicle.

Government, when challenged about the withdrawal of advertisements from the other private daily, Stabroek News, had explained that its advertising policy hinged on obtaining value for taxpayers money.

President Bharat Jagdeo had explained that the government’s policy on newspaper advertising was to use the state owned Guyana Chronicle and one of the private media houses, whichever one had the wider circulation.

At the time, he identified Kaieteur News as having the wider circulation.

Both the New Guyana Marketing Corporation and the Guyana Forestry Commission fall under the Ministry of Agriculture.

When contacted, Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud said that he does not determine advertising policy.

He explained that he was informed that the Guyana Times, which solicited the advertisements, contacted the agencies.

He said that he was told that no other newspaper used that approach.

The Minister then referred all other queries to the agency that handles the advertisement for the two government entities. He said that had it been a standard advertisement, such as one that was intended to recruit labour or one advertising the sale of something, he would have queried the placement.