Guyana in war of words with US…PPP accuses Ambassador of meddling in local politics

May 06, 2014 News

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Tensions between the government and the US Embassy escalated over the weekend with the ruling party labeling the US Ambassador as a meddler in local politics.
This was following criticisms by Ambassador D. Brent Hardt on Friday of Government’s hand in censoring the local media.
The ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), in a statement late Saturday night titled  “Journalists must recommit to Guyana’s developmental agenda”, was harsh in its assessment of the diplomat.

“US Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Brent Hardt, a known meddler in local politics, must be rebuked for his assertion that censorship of the media is practiced by the government. At the same time he purposefully ignores the Opposition slashing of the budgetary resources for NCN and GINA. This exposes the political duplicity of this individual.”
The party insisted that it is supportive of fair and objective journalism and “demands an end to the callous, personalised attacks which are most times riddled with libel and defamation against the President, his cabinet Ministers and public officials.”
The relations between the US and Guyana have been a strained one in recent times over a controversial democracy project that is being implemented in the National Assembly.
One of the objectives of the project is to bring more awareness of the need for local government elections which were last held almost two decades ago.
Last week, Government announced that it had revoked the work permit and stay extension of the project’s coordinator, Glenn Bradbury.
The embassy, which is implementing the Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Project through theUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID), has since said that it regretted the revocation of the visa which is contrary to the commitment given by the Guyana government.
On Saturday, a statement from the Government Information Agency (GINA) quoted President Donald Ramotar as making it clear, on the project, that “… we never agreed to it, we were never consulted, we were not part of any forum on this programme …we do not need it in our country, at this point in time, that is why we took the unusual position that we have taken.”
The President cautioned that Government continues to have excellent relations with the US with ongoing cooperation in the security and other sectors.
“It is only on the issue of the LEAD project, which the President insisted that his administration had no part of, and as a result refuses to accept an imposition in that regard.”
The statement said that Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, took the step to revoke the work permit of Bradbury, the Canadian contractor.
“This move came after Government learnt that the project was being implemented despite its strenuous objections and meetings with US officials on the issue.”
The notice of revocation was, according to the state-owned Guyana Chronicle, sent to Bradbury about two weeks ago.

Government said that it was committed to re-engaging the discussion process, but not when the activities under the LEAD project were still being implemented.
With regards to the Opposition, the Government said, “The posture taken by the political opposition with regards to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Project is surprising, and they appear willing to compromise Guyana’s sovereignty and integrity.”
On Friday, the US Ambassador speaking to media workers and other invitees during the World Press Freedom Day reception expressed disappointment that radio stations in Guyana still fall short of offering an open public square for debate and discussion.
He added that even an International Press Institute (IPI) report made it clear that a number of independent media outlets have had their broadcast applications denied or ignored in some cases for more than 20 years.
The Ambassador was, of course, alluding to applications by Kaieteur News, Stabroek News and a number of other independent media houses, whose applications were bypassed in favour of mainly friends of the administration.
Hardt said that IPI also raised an issue he has long found perplexing, which is the use of the term “opposition media” to describe any media institution that is not controlled by the government.
“This is indeed a demeaning term that fails to do justice to the vital role that an independent media must play in a modern, democratic society” the Ambassador posited.
He noted that the use of the appellation was also inaccurate. “Anyone who reads or watches independent media in Guyana will see that there are letters to the editor supportive of the government, columns that advocate government positions, and generally balanced reporting on actions of government” Hardt noted.
The PPP statement of Saturday, however, insisted on the use of the term “opposition media”.
“The party notes the political venom and hate spewed by the opposition media, namely, Kaieteur News and Stabroek News in their attempts to destabilise and undermine the ruling PPPC administration. The party wishes to remind the opposition media that their acts by their very nature undermine the principal tenets of press freedom, and freedom of expression in Guyana.”

The party said that it believed that journalists need to address the development agenda with the same zeal and intensity as they pursue their own selfish and narrow political interests.
“The PPP is committed to an environment where the news and information is fueled by facts and not the whims and fancies of the rumour mills.”

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