Latest update June 1st, 2026 12:37 AM
A government resists criticisms
The role of the media is to provide information as well as to entertain. Every media has the same role, regardless of the ownership. Most media houses around the world are privately owned, and because of their very nature, they need to appeal to the viewers. This is where they develop the market to command a share of the advertising cake. That is why their programmes are people-oriented.
In the so-called socialist countries there are state-owned and state-controlled media. These operate outside the pale, unlike those state media in countries like the United Kingdom, Australia and even the United States. These state media believe in solely the information aspect. Often the information is disinformation.
In countries like the United Kingdom and Australia, the governments have no direct control. The governments may appoint a board of directors to government operations, but these boards have no control over content.
If they try to control, then the viewing public would raise Cain. These are people who recognise the importance of the media. In the United States, the state-owned Voice of America does not broadcast in the United States. In fact, reporters attached to this media entity are not entitled to ask questions at Government press conferences.
We come to Guyana, where there is a plethora of state media. There is the television station that is ubiquitous, the solitary radio station and the newspaper. In addition, there are other television stations that are sympathetic to the government and would never publish or broadcast news items that are not in the best interest of the government.
In cases where the private media carry the true story the state media kick into action, either with an explanation, or a retort that is ad hominen, or a simple decision to ignore the reports. Viewers are then denied the true story. And this happens although there are objections from sections of the society.
Taxpayers’ money invariably funds the operation of the state media and these media entities are still allowed to enter the advertising market. What has not escaped notice is the influence the government exerts on the advertisers. In some cases the government also tries to pressure advertisers to refrain from advertising with the private media.
The Guyana Lottery Company, when it started operations here, entered into a contract with a privately-owned television station — The Evening News. The government was responsible for granting the contract to the lottery company. It leaned on the lottery company, first of all, to allow the state television to carry the lottery for a fee, then it demanded that the lottery company remove its programme entirely from The Evening News.
The most recent issue that should be of national importance involves the airing of the radio series Merundoi. This is an educational programme that examines HIV/AIDS and other social issues. The government-controlled radio station has decided pull the plug on Merundoi because of some broadcast on the national registration process.
If the broadcast is critical of the government then the authorities should recognise that there are going to be times when criticisms are warranted. Being street-oriented, the writers of Merundoi could only write what is occurring in the minds of people.
If the government finds this offensive, then it could retaliate by issuing a statement or a criticism. But the entire country knows that this government is not about to take criticism; that it is petty and that it would use its power to shut down any criticism.
This can only happen in Guyana, where the people have been browbeaten, and where the first words that come from people’s mouths is ‘victimisation.’
In any democracy, the government is the whipping boy. It must rule in a manner that would force people to recognize its best efforts and would criticize its shortcomings. But this does not happen in Guyana. Merundoi cannot seek to broadcast on another radio station because there is only one radio station in Guyana and that one is controlled by the government. By pulling the plug, it has effectively pulled the plug on the programme.
And Guyanese are going to say nothing out loud. There are going to be the letters, some so critical that they would call for a change in the government. But the government knows that although it blunders from mistake to mistake, voters do not vote on issues. It will live to make another blunder.
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