An apparent PPP Government-inspired attempted hostile takeover of the GPA failed miserably

May 18, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

The Government seems to be blaming complaints from the Guyana Press Association (GPA) head Ms. Raghubir for a 26-points drop in ratings on the Global Press Freedom Index. (“Jagdeo blames Press Association for poor global press freedom rating,” DW, 5 May 2023). This is quite a huge drop, very embarrassing, and the VP seems upset as he vented profusely at a Press Conference. Mr. Eusi Kwayana has warned that, “Citizens should take note of Jagdeo’s singling out of the GPA,” (SN, May 16, 2023).

Kwayana said, “But when the same Vice President speaks on press freedom and singles out an agency, the Guyana Press Association, as being responsible for Guyana’s reduced ratings in freedom of expression internationally, this is something that citizens should take note of. The GPA at present has as its chief executive a woman whose name is Ms. Nazima Raghubir. Now the Vice President is a man with real power. He knows well that pointing his finger at a functionary of this kind may alert certain activists on his side of the political divide, and they may feel it their duty to bring this functionary into line, and that can take various forms. I will leave it at that. But I want to emphasise that it is extremely insensitive, and I regard it as menacing for the Vice President, and some people believe, the President in Chief, to name the head of a voluntary agency, the purpose of which is to bring some measure of fairness and accountability for practicing media operatives and institutions.”

The GPA had warned that the government was trying to take over the organisation. Apparently, there was a plan to register folks from pro-Government entities at the last minute to attend the election and vote out the current executive. The plan seems to have included an individual who is neither a trained journalist neither a journalistic critic. I watched a recent programme that person runs where fake news, the kind that the PPP might have liked, that said Mr. Glenn Lall formed a party and that Mr. Ramnarine was the Prime Ministerial Candidate. There was much demonisation and mocking of these two patriots. In that same programme, that chap said he got a text from a fella called Uncle Deryck asking, “What happen to me and meh partner Azruddin Mohamed? Where this pervert coming from? He look like an anteater.” He put Derek’s photo on the screen, and asked his operator, “You got any photos with an anteater…leh we do a side-by-side analysis.” I don’t know that kind of stuff would qualify as “journalism.” Under no known circumstances, even if standards were low, would what he does be considered journalism, so I don’t know why an injunction would be filed to stop the voting because he could not become a member of a professional Journalists’ Association.

After upbraiding the attorney in the injunction case, the Chief Justice said, “I am not going to allow this to go further, the entire Fixed Date Application is struck out. It has been totally misconceived. The Court cannot allow a matter than is misconceived to proceed, for a full hearing” (“Chief Justice throws out ‘Guyanese Critic’s’ application to stop GPA elections,” May 14, 2023).

The PPP Government must be concerned at the optics of its apparent overreaching and harassment of the current GPA and letting lose its dogs of war. This smacks of Burnham-era politics, and “Paramountcy of the Party” tactics. Since it failed in its hostile takeover of the GPA, we can be sure there will be a parallel Press Association formed under the patronage of Government-related folks, notwithstanding the “One Guyana” slogan. Who knows they might deny accreditation to the current GPA folks. But the international community (ABCEU) is watching and they released a very scathing statement on World Press Freedom Day 2023 under the theme, “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights.” Some international folks also attended the GPA election as observers. The VP should take warning, you better take warning, you better do good!, as Eddie Hooper sang long ago.

Sincerely,

M. Singh

Global Press Freedom Index, Guyana Press Association (GPA), Mr. Eusi Kwayana, Ms. Nazima Raghubir, Vice President

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