Access to information is a democratic right

May 06, 2018 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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(Excerpts from an address by H.E. David Granger to the Guyana Press Association on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2016)

It is my considered opinion that the State is obliged to preserve, protect and promote citizens’ right to freedom of expression. The State protects this freedom by enforcing constitutional and legal guarantees and by providing that citizens must have access to information.
The communications media are vehicles though which citizens receive and transmit information. Independently controlled and professionally constituted media are essential to freedom of expression. Information is a public good, it is a ‘non-rivalrous’ and ‘non-exclusive’ service, it is free for all.
Free access to information is an inalienable right of every citizen. It is an indispensable condition of democratic society. Citizens’ access to information is a democratic right and information is necessary for citizens’ informed participation in society. Restrictions in the flow of information deny citizens the opportunity to participate fully in decision-making and, thereby impair democracy.
Every Journalist I think, should have over his or her bed, Article 146 of our Constitution; “Except with his consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, that is to say, freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference, and freedom from interference with his communication”.
That is our supreme law and nothing is more supreme that our supreme law. Article 146 is an unambiguous and unclouded statement of our supreme law as nation. It is an assurance of every citizen’s right to freedom of expression. There are, inevitably, exceptions and the same Article continues to provide those exceptions;
“…in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health or for the purposes of protecting the reputation, rights and freedoms of other persons….”
The State has an obligation, not an option, to ensure that it provides information to the public and the State exercises this duty through its own State-owned media. State media are those which are controlled financially and editorially by the Government.
My administration recognizes the roles of and respects the separation of power among the three branches of government; the Legislative branch, the Executive branch and the Judicial branch.
My Government accepts that the State-media have a duty to report accurately and without bias on all three arms of the State and they’re obliged to report the views of all parties in the National Assembly in the course of public business.
My Government accepts that the State-media have a duty to ensure that the opinions of those persons on the margins of society are heard and that the media should serve the interests of all of the people of Guyana and not just of the Government.
The State will continue to have a presence in the media. This is necessary because private media are located largely on the coastland. They are not located in rural and hinterland areas. They are all located in the city of Georgetown. They do not possess sufficient resources to provide public information to all of our citizens, especially those in the hinterland and rural areas.
State-media therefore have a duty to provide information to all of the citizens of this country. They are not intended to compete for or to dominate the information space. The State is committed to protect citizen’s constitutional right to communicate ideas and to receive information. State-media will continue to provide this service in a dispassionate and a professional manner.
State-media have a duty to report our national development. Since such information is not often sensational enough to be given attention by the private media, that responsibility will continue.
State-media have an obligation to inform the people about community development projects. The people are entitled to know the details of these projects. State-media can also play an important role in disseminating economic, environmental, public health and climate advisories and providing information about public services, and as I said, there are so many areas of this country which the private-media cannot penetrate and the State- media have an obligation to provide these services.
My administration’s policy therefore, is to develop ten strong regions administered by ten ‘capital towns’. It is our expectation that in the not too distant future each ‘capital town’ could contribute to closing the communication gap with its own citizens by establishing its own media, its own newspapers, the Lethem News, the Linden News, Mabaruma Daily, Bartica Express, why not? Its own radio, its own television, along with its ability to facilitate the prevalent social media.
Journalism is a noble profession. Journalism like any other profession is based on a sense of social responsibility. It is not for the reckless, it is based on education. It is not for the uneducated. It is based on ethics, it is based on experience.
The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has a duty to enforce these high standards of performance among the media. The GPA has an obligation to protect the ideals of this profession, from abuse.
The Government of Guyana is committed to the promotion of a high degree of media professionalism.
My Administration will not undermine the professionalism of State-media workers by subjecting them to political direction or interference with their work.
My administration is committed also to non-interference in the independent media. Independent media act as watchdogs of the Government. They promote transparency by ensuring that information is provided to the public on the work of the Government.
They are a source of valuable feedback on the effectiveness of the efforts of the Government. There is no good reason for the State to interfere in the work of the private-media. The relationship between the State and the private-media must be seen as a partnership in providing a public good, that is, public information for the citizens of this country.
Independence of thought must be preserved, professionalism must be promoted and the Constitution of Guyana must be upheld.

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