A ploy to squeeze private newspapers

Aug 28, 2010 News

“It does not take a rocket scientist to understand the thrust behind the current position as it relates to Government advertisements being withheld from newspapers,” – Carberry

Chief Whip of the Peoples National Congress, Lance Carberry says that it does not take a rocket scientist to understand the thrust behind the current position as it relates to Government advertisements being withheld from newspapers.
Carberry was at the time responding to media operatives during the party’s weekly party briefing yesterday.
He said that persons should not pretend when dealing with the issue, adding that it is a fact that the ruling administration’s attitude to the media houses that they do not consider to be pliant has been to squeeze them economically.
Carberry added that the current position by the Government as it relates to advertisement has to be credible, adding that in the past when there have been calls for information, persons are pointed to websites to no avail.
He used as an example the recent request he made to Prime Minister Samuel Hinds regarding the Guyana Power and Light Company and was told to check the website but no such information was available.
Leader of the Opposition Robert Corbin in speaking on the issue, said that the decision by the government was premature.
Corbin said that had President Bharrat Jagdeo already fulfilled his commitment of distributing the 90, 000 computers and had already completed the broadband network and the internet was the major means of communication then the decision would make sense.
He said that this decision is like many other PPP decisions, “they put the cart before the horse.”
Corbin said that the decision to reduce advertisements to print media when the average person still does not have access to the internet “is lopsided.”
The Government in a statement to media houses recently said that they noted recent fulminations by certain sections of the media, including last Monday’s editorial by Stabroek News, on the matter of the decision taken to establish a website to publish Government advertisements with resultant implications for placement of such advertisements in the print media.
The Government explanation said that any serious examination of the comments by specific privately owned media houses would lead to the inescapable conclusion that the comments are motivated by nothing other than blatant self-interest and commercial considerations, and are devoid of any principle or objectivity.
“For example, the Stabroek News’ editorial makes reference to the need for value for money, but in almost the same breath dismisses the obvious economies that would be generated by the establishment of the website…Indeed, even more brazenly, the editorial acknowledges the potential for the website to generate savings, but then seeks to ascribe negative motive to Government for wishing to generate such savings.”
The government said that, comments such as those contained in the Stabroek News’ editorial completely ignore the fact that the use of electronic or other dedicated means to publish Government advertisements is a well-established practice the world over,
“There are in fact very few examples that can be cited from the rest of the world where Government advertisements are placed in mainstream newspapers on a routine ongoing basis.”
The Government explanation urged the media houses to be frank with their readership and the general public about their vested interest in this matter and, if they wish to retain any semblance of objectivity, set aside those vested interests and acknowledge the obvious benefits that can flow from advertisements being more readily available to a wider audience utilising modern technology.
Publisher of the Kaieteur News Glenn Lall in response to the government urges, said that the intention behind the reduction of advertisements was clearly to stifle the private newspapers in Guyana. He said that he saw this tactic by the government coming months ago and this is the reason why the price of the Kaieteur News was raised by $20.
Mr. Lall said that it is clear from the fact that the newspaper still enjoys the largest readership and the citizens of Guyana are not being fooled by the statements emanating from the Office of the President.

Latest News

A ploy to squeeze private newspapers

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

St. Lucia’s Elite Blazers takes aim at FIBA 3×3 World Tour in...

Petra/Milo U18 Football kicks off Round II action...

Track and Field clubs demand nullification of AAG...

Joint Statement from WIPA and CWI on Athlete...

RCNA launches Childhood Obesity Prevention...

FL Sport donates stumps to Meten-Meer-Zorg...

Features/Columnists

Following one’s conscience rather than the crowd

If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?

New beginning, or beginning of a nightmare?

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

A ploy to squeeze private newspapers

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]