Nadir’s war on the press must be stopped

Feb 03, 2026 Editorial, News

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(Kaieteur News) – The office of the Speaker of the National Assembly is not a personal fiefdom, nor is it an extension of the ruling party’s political machinery. It is meant to symbolise neutrality, fairness and the protection of democratic traditions. Yet Speaker Manzoor Nadir continues to demonstrate, with alarming consistency, that he is either unwilling or incapable of rising to that standard.

From the controversial manoeuvring that stymied the election of the Leader of the Opposition, to the deliberate exclusion of journalists from key parliamentary proceedings, Nadir’s tenure has descended from controversy into outright hostility toward transparency. His latest edict restricting media coverage of the budget debates is not merely administrative misjudgment, it is a direct assault on press freedom and democratic accountability.

On Monday, the Speaker decreed that only five reporters would be allowed inside the parliamentary Dome during the budget debates. Journalists are now required to surrender identification before entry and are subjected to arbitrary limitations that have no logical justification. This represents a drastic reduction from previous years, when up to 17 reporters were accommodated within Parliament Buildings. Even more absurd is the fact that these restrictions are being imposed in a larger space, raising serious questions about motive rather than logistics.

The Guyana Press Association (GPA), in a strongly worded statement, rightly condemned this action. The Association noted that the absence of a direct camera feed inside the Dome further compounds the problem. Media houses have been told they must rely on a link from the Department of Public Information (DPI), an arm of the government whose broadcasts have proven unreliable, plagued by audio dropouts and interruptions. An online stream controlled by the state cannot be considered a substitute for independent, uninterrupted access to parliamentary proceedings.

The GPA reminded the National Assembly that the press exists to ensure transparency, accountability and accurate reporting of parliamentary business. Restricting access and denying technical facilities undermines the public’s right to know. That warning should not fall on deaf ears.

This is not occurring in isolation. It follows earlier decisions by the Speaker to bar reporters from witnessing the election of the Leader of the Opposition and to effectively blackout full media presence during the budget presentation itself. The pattern is unmistakable. There is a systematic narrowing of access, a shrinking of public oversight and a troubling consolidation of information control.

Never before in Guyana’s parliamentary history has a Speaker sought to micromanage and muzzle the press in this manner. Past Speakers, regardless of political affiliation, understood that a free press inside Parliament is not a privilege to be granted at whim, but a democratic necessity. Mr. Nadir, however, appears determined to rewrite that tradition.

By his actions, the Speaker has transformed himself into the proverbial “weapon formed” against the media. He has demonstrated scant regard for the independent press and little respect for its role in a democratic society. A Speaker who behaves in this manner is unfit to preside over an institution meant to represent freedom, openness and the people’s sovereignty. Even more troubling is the silence of the government. Given that Mr. Nadir is widely viewed as operating in lockstep with the administration, the failure of the PPP government to publicly repudiate these undemocratic measures makes it complicit. If the executive truly believes in open governance, it must admonish the Speaker and demand an immediate reversal of these restrictions. Silence, in this case, is endorsement.

The National Assembly belongs to the people of Guyana, not to the Speaker, not to the government, and not to any political party. The press serves as the bridge between that institution and the public it represents. When that bridge is deliberately weakened, democracy itself is placed at risk.

Guyana has made painful sacrifices to secure democratic space. It would be a tragedy if those gains are eroded not by overt authoritarianism, but by the quiet normalisation of censorship disguised as “procedure” and “order.” The Speaker must immediately rescind this edict, restore full access to the media, provide proper direct broadcasting facilities, and recommit to the principles of openness and accountability. Anything less would confirm what many now fear that Parliament under Manzoor Nadir is drifting away from democracy and toward political control.

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• Editorial, Free Speech, Manzoor Nadir, media, press

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