Political victimization of reporters worrisome- AFC

May 01, 2014 News

As the local media fraternity gears to celebrate World Press Freedom Day on Saturday, May 3, Executive Member of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Cathy Hughes, has expressed her concern over the ‘political victimization of reporters’ particularly at the National Communications Network (NCN).

This assertion was made yesterday during a press conference at the Sidewalk Café on Middle Street.

The AFC Member reminded that the United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness on the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

She said that the relevance of the Declaration lies in the fact that it commits journalists and citizens to defend and promote freedom of the press and freedom of expression as priorities to achieve the common good.

She quoted the Declaration as saying, “Without freedom, there can be no true order, stability and justice. And without freedom of expression there can be no freedom… Freedom of expression and the seeking, dissemination and collection of information can be exercised only if freedom of the press exists.”

Based on the profound statement, Hughes said that the issue of Press Freedom is again in the forefront.

Hughes said that the parliamentary opposition party continues to lament the fact that the, “State controlled media in Guyana continues to reject these core principles visible in the “shutting out” of a range of diverse views, especially those it deems “Opposition” and continually failing to recognize the right of each citizen to receive information from all sources, to reflect on it and to respectfully come to his or her own conclusions.”

The Member of Parliament said, “The role of journalists in fulfilling these objectives is vital and we note with alarm the reality in Guyana. Too often, independent journalists are labeled as being opposition for merely doing their work which is an unacceptable state of affairs. Recently we observed a journalist attached to NCN being suspended for airing my budget presentation and we note today (yesterday) in the press another has been sent home.”

This, the politician said, “brings home the fact that the report into the financial irregularities at NCN has still not been made public and this nation continues to wonder what specific action has been taken to remedy the situation.”

Hughes said that the AFC recognizes the need to improve access to public information, public education, public participation in government and the building of public trust. The National Communications Network, like other media entity is strategically placed to play this all important role she added.

When asked her opinion on the treatment meted out to reporters at NCN, Hughes said, “I have a problem and we see it probably more in NCN, but for organizations which do not allow a journalist to report impartially on something then some protection should be afforded to them. The journalist is the messenger. If they say ten people here are against the government that doesn’t mean the reporter is an Opposition reporter.”

The AFC Member continued, “Any kind of political victimization and demanding reporters take certain lines is against the role and core principles a journalist has to adhere to and this happens in NCN a lot. It is worrying. The philosophy of the Executive is that NCN is their political tool. No government has the right to take a public entity and use it for their own good. NCN should operate almost like how the British Broadcasting Corporation operates and be run by an independent body and allow all sections of the society to have a voice. It is not the propaganda tool of the government.”