KN reporter refused entry to President’s press conference

Jul 24, 2010 News

– McCoy says must have govt. issued media pass

– Jagdeo unaware of such a rule, unable to explain McCoy’s actions

One of Kaieteur News’ senior reporters, Gary Eleazar was yesterday refused entry to the Office of the President (OP) for the Head of State’s press conference.
Eleazar presented his Guyana Press Association (GPA) media pass to the receptionist at OP and Information Press Liaison Officer for the President Kwame McCoy, who was present in the reception area, instructed that no member of the media must be allowed entry without a Government Information Agency (GINA) pass.
Eleazar informed McCoy that the only pass he uses is the GPA-issued pass but McCoy said that he did not recognise that pass and as such the reporter could not be allowed to cover the press conference.
Several other media operatives were refused entry as a result of not having their GINA-issued media passes.
It must be noted that at least two other media personnel were allowed entry to cover the President’s press conference without GINA passes before McCoy showed up and issued his directive when he saw the KN reporter’s media pass.
Subsequent contact was made with President Bharrat Jagdeo who said that he was not aware of any rule at Office of the President and could not explain why McCoy took that course of action.
When contacted yesterday, President of the Guyana Press Association Gordon Moseley said that the issue of the passes is currently engaging the association and a meeting with the Information Unit of the Office of the President and GINA is scheduled for next week.
Kaieteur News’ Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris stated that the Government can never legitimise who a reporter is. Harris said that this is the job of the media organisation and representative.
He said that McCoy is determined that GINA must be the sole agency to accredit journalists and described the position as “ridiculous and insane”.
The KN Editor-in-Chief said that he has instructed his reporters to refuse media passes given by GINA.