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‘Bring a motion or sit down’ – Speaker clashes with MP over media lockout
By Shania Williams
(Kaieteur News) – Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, on Tuesday interrupted a presentation by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan, after he criticised recent restrictions on media access to the House, challenging him instead to bring a formal motion if he wished the policy to be changed.
During his budget debates presentation, Duncan condemned the limitation placed on media coverage of parliamentary proceedings of the 13th Parliament and called on the Speaker to immediately lift the restrictions, arguing that they undermine press freedom and democratic norms.
He strongly condemned the policy during his contribution, accusing the government of hypocrisy on press freedom. “Now this is a government who will tell you about press freedom and Press Freedom Day and how much they respect the media, but they continue to lock out the media from the People’s House,” Duncan said. He added, “This is a troubling move and a clear break from democratic norms and long-standing parliamentary practice. This House must immediately rescind the restraints and restore full unfettered access to all accredited media.”
However, before Duncan could continue, Speaker Nadir rose to his feet and without stopping the MP’s speaking time, read aloud from the Standing Orders governing media access to the National Assembly. He stressed that under Standing Order 110, the authority to grant or revoke permission for media representatives to attend sittings rests solely with the Speaker, subject to rules made by the Assembly. “I want to turn your attention and the clock is working, to page 59 of Standing Order 110. The Speaker may grant general permission to representatives of any media to attend sittings of the Assembly under such rules as the National Assembly may make from time to time. If such rules are contravened, such permission may be revoked.”
Speaker of the National Assembly Mansoor Nadir on feet, addressing Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan.
Addressing Duncan directly, Nadir urged him to pursue the matter through a motion. “You can bring a motion to this House, have it debated and passed, and I will implement it,” Nadir said. “Until then, what existed in this House up to the end of the last sitting of the 12th Parliament has been expanded. That position was established in consultation with the Guyana Press Association (GPA). So, when you speak of full unfretted access to the media be careful. You have an option, you can mislead persons who want to go down that road or you can bring a motion,” Nadir stated.
Nadir rejected claims that the media had been locked out of Parliament, maintaining that both private and state media continue to have access. “I will continue to ensure that the media the private media as well as the state media have access. No one is being restricted from covering the proceedings of this house,” the speaker said.
Duncan, however, strongly condemned the policy during his contribution, accusing the government of hypocrisy on press freedom. The controversy follows a decision by Speaker Nadir on Monday to reinstate pandemic-era restrictions on media coverage of the 13th Parliament. Journalists arriving at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre for the opening of the 2026 Budget Debates were informed that only five reporters would be allowed inside the parliamentary Dome at any given time, on a first come first served approach. Media houses were also told that journalists would be required to lodge a form of identification, a national ID card, passport, or driver’s licence, in exchange for one of the five available media passes. Similar identification requirements were imposed on other attendees, excluding Members of Parliament.
In defending the measure, Nadir said the restrictions were a continuation of protocols implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Meanwhile, the Guyana Press Association (GPA), in a statement issued shortly before the third sitting of the 13th Parliament, expressed deep concern over the reduced access. The Association noted that in previous years, up to 17 reporters were accommodated within Parliament Buildings to cover sittings. “It is difficult to comprehend why, in a larger space, fewer reporters are now permitted,” the GPA stated. The Association urged the Speaker to urgently review the measures and restore full media access in keeping with democratic principles and open governance.
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