Speaker locks out press

Feb 03, 2026 News

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…revives Covid-era rules for budget debates

By Davina Bagot

(Kaieteur News) – Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir has resurrected pandemic-era restrictions to curtail media coverage of the 13th Parliament, triggering outrage from journalists and press freedom advocates.

Reporters who arrived at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday to cover the opening of the 2026 Budget Debates were informed that only five journalists would be allowed inside the parliamentary Dome at any given time.

Kaieteur News was told that each representative will be required to lodge a form of identification- a national Identification (ID) card, Passport or Driver’s License, upon which one of five media passes will be granted. The lodgment of IDs was required for other persons attending the Sitting, with the exception of Members of Parliament (MPs).

In defending the enforcement of such an onerous initiative, the Speaker, Manzoor Nadir said that this was merely a continuation of what was obtained in 2020 during the Pandemic.

The GPA in a statement that came mere moments before the third Sitting of the 13^th Parliament got underway highlighted its deep concern over the restrictions imposed on media coverage of the Budget Debates.

The Association pointed out that this represents a significant reduction from previous years, when up to 17 reporters were accommodated within Parliament Buildings to cover sessions. As such, it said, “It is difficult to comprehend why, in a larger space, fewer reporters are now permitted.”

In addition to the limited media access, the GPA raised concern over the Speaker’s directive to block media houses from recording inside the Dome. Cameramen were informed upon arrival that they will be provided with a link from the Department of Public Information (DPI). Notably, the Press Association pointed out that this mechanism has proven unreliable, with frequent audio breaks and interruptions. “An online link cannot be considered a direct feed, as it does not provide continuous, unfiltered access to parliamentary proceedings,” the GPA argued.

It reminded that the role of the press is to ensure transparency, accountability, and accurate reporting of parliamentary business. As such, the GPA stated, “Restricting access and failing to provide proper technical facilities undermines the public’s right to be informed. We strongly condemn this edict from the Speaker and view it as a direct attack on freedom of the press, a hallmark of any democratic society.”

The GPA urged the Speaker to urgently review these measures and restore full access for the press, in keeping with democratic norms and the principles of open governance.

For his part, Nadir at the opening of the Sitting explained the need for strict security measures to be implemented and consideration of space utilization in the Dome.

The Speaker said, “The configuration of our National Assembly- this 13^th Parliament is affected by two criteria- I should say configuration and seating.” He noted that on his left where there were previously three rows, there are now four while the government also occupies a larger portion of the seats in the House. Consequently, he explained, “So all we have left in the dome is the top two (rows) that have to accommodate the staff of the Ministries who support their ministers, the staff of the Parliament and also persons who have written to the Clerk and I, asking for access.”

To this end, he noted, “We want to be reinforcing that we pride ourselves on access and we will continue to provide access to the proceedings of the National Assembly.”

At the same time, Nadir said there were “additional security issues” pointing to Canada where MPs are now outfitted with a panic button.

To this end, he noted that the construction of the security facilities at Public Buildings started and was completed in 2025, with scanners now acquired.

“We are in a state of continuous monitoring and improving,” he asserted.

While the Speaker pointed to seating constraints in the Assembly, Kaieteur News observed several vacant seats in the Dome on Monday while reporters were refused entrance to cover the live debates.

Media reacts

In light of the new directive hindering media freedom, several journalists in and out of the profession chided the regulations. Seasoned broadcaster, Gordon Mosely wrote, “This is now bordering on ignorance and arrogance to the highest level. Media houses are now effectively being barred by the Speaker from providing proper coverage of the National Assembly.

Journalists arriving for this afternoon’s sitting of the National Assembly for the start of the Budget Debates are being told that only five (5) journalists will be allowed into the Assembly to provide coverage at any given time of the sitting and this will remain in place moving forward. Those 5 journalists (first come, first serve), we are told, will have to lodge their National ID Card or Driver’s License before they are allowed access into the Assembly after being issued with a temporary pass from the Assembly.

Additionally, the Speaker through his PR Officer, has also announced that ONLY Department of Public Information cameras will be allowed into the Assembly and media houses will have to rely on whatever footage comes out from DPI. Note that for the electronic media, this means we will have to wait until the end of the livestream since DPI has NO system in place to provide any live feed to media teams on site.

With these sittings going on for hours, media houses could now be forced to wait for the end of the livestream at God knows what hour, before being allowed access to download the video for their newscasts. I don’t know where the Speaker gathers his media relations advice, but something has got to be wrong for such a backward step to be taken.

Initially, the media was told last week that the limitations for the budget presentation had to do with space availability since there would be many invitees. That has come and gone and so there is absolutely no reason for this limiting of media access to the 13th Parliament by this Speaker of the National Assembly.

I have been covering the National Assembly since around 1999/2000 and have never seen this level of contempt by a Speaker for the media in Guyana. It is an attack on the media, an attack on the freedom of the press and an attack on the right to information by a Speaker who ought to be upholding those rights rather than trample on them in this cowardly way. The Speaker needs to correct this nonsensical move and the Government, the Opposition and the Guyana Press Association ought to raise this concern with him at every level before, during and after today’s sitting. We cannot be moving forward with such backward steps.”

Fareeza Haniff

“The Parliament Building on Brickdam had very limited space for media, yet more than five journalists were allowed inside and provided unfiltered coverage.
This new “rule,” applied to a significantly larger building that can comfortably accommodate nearly all of us, is nonsensical. There is no rational explanation or justification for it.”

Leroy Smith

“Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, by way of his actions since sitting as the country’s Speaker of the National Assembly, has been inching closer and closer to the red line between media accessibility and media suppression, and today he crossed that red line…it is now for the Guyana Press Association to write to all international affiliate bodies and agencies that work with the National Assembly and bring their attention to this clear attempt at stymying the work of the media in Guyana.
It has been happening too often; many people who work within parliament would tell you about the fights they have to have with the speaker just to ensure that the media is properly accommodated whenever there is a parliamentary event at which the media is expected to be present.
Limiting five reporters to the dome for the national debates of the country’s largest budget is, to my mind, a war against the media.
It is also a disrespect to the craft maker in Region 9, the forest ranger in Region 1, the farmer in Region 6, the market vendor in Region 4, and every other single Guyanese in this country, including all those who sit in the house.
A war against the 4th Estate is not the smartest thing for any public official to engineer.”

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• COVID-19, Leroy Smith, Manzoor Nadir, media, Parliament, restriction

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