We are all indicted by the closure of Stabroek News

Feb 15, 2026 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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(Kaieteur News) – The impending closure of Stabroek News marks a sad chapter in the history of Guyana. For decades, this newspaper stood as a symbol of press freedom and independent journalism in our country. Its loss cannot be taken lightly. But while many, including the newspaper itself, will blame economics, market forces or global trends, the uncomfortable truth is this: the Guyanese people themselves must bear ultimate responsibility for the newspaper’s demise.

When Stabroek News first appeared as a weekly publication, it was printed in Trinidad and sold from a building in Queenstown. Copies were limited. People flocked to buy it. The demand was so high that one of the co-owners allowed only one copy per person so that more citizens could have access. That alone tells us how hungry Guyanese once were for independent reporting. They understood its value. They knew that a free press mattered.

In time, the newspaper established its own printery. It became a daily publication and grew into the flag bearer of press freedom in Guyana. Through difficult years, it stood firm. It challenged governments when necessary. It exposed wrongdoing. It gave voice to the voiceless. It provided space for debate, including through its letter pages. It became, in many ways, a guardian of democratic values.

It is therefore extremely painful to see it go.

Yes, the closure of Stabroek News is part of a wider global trend. Newspapers around the world are struggling. In the Caribbean, even publications like Newsday have left the scene. Problems had been developing even before the pandemic. Things got worse with newspapers because of the pandemic.

The pandemic dealt a heavy blow to print media everywhere. Advertising revenues declined. Circulation fell sharply. Many papers never recovered.  Lockdowns reduced movement. Sales dropped. That was understandable. But even after restrictions eased, circulation never returned to former levels. It continued to fall. The paper could perhaps have survived if its loyal readership had remained steady. If people had recognised their moral obligation to support an institution that had defended their freedoms for decades, the story might have been different. During the pandemic, things began to slide.

But Guyana’s case is not just about the pandemic or global forces. It is also about local choices.

A weekday copy of Stabroek News cost only $100. That is less than the price of many everyday items people buy without hesitation. Yet many chose not to support it. They turned instead to “free” news on social media—often unverified, unreliable, and driven by rumour. They preferred the illusion of freeness, without considering the cost to our democracy.

There is also the matter of state advertising. The current administration, led by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, has been accused of withholding advertising revenues owed for services provided. Such actions weaken independent media. When a government uses advertising as a weapon, it sends a troubling message. But citizens, too, have power. For years, Kaieteur News did not receive a single government advertisement. But it survived because people bought the newspaper, thousands of persons. But that subscriber base is dwindling now.

The Guyanese diaspora must also reflect on its role. Thousands of Guyanese living overseas continue to follow events back home. They debate politics on social media. They comment on developments. They express strong views about governance and democracy.

Yet many did not enroll in paid digital subscriptions that could have provided a steady stream of revenue for the Stabroek News. For those earning in foreign currencies, the subscription cost would have been modest. Instead, many relied on shared articles or free snippets online. In doing so, they too helped to put the final nail in the newspaper’s coffin. Support from abroad could have made a meaningful difference, but that support did not materialise in sufficient numbers.

The local business class must also share responsibility. Many businesses benefited from the exposure and credibility that established newspapers provided. Yet when the paper struggled, advertising support did not materialise in sufficient quantity. Even those who were socially and historically connected to the newspaper did not come forward in the way one would expect. That silence speaks volumes.

Still, ultimate responsibility rests with the people. A free press cannot survive on sentiment alone. It survives on sales, subscriptions, and advertising. It survives when citizens understand that democracy is not free. If we value press freedom, we must be willing to pay for it.

Stabroek News did not close because Guyanese lacked money. It closed because too many lacked commitment. Even if you got your news from social media, there was a moral obligation to defend press freedom because we all know that when press freedom goes what happens. It would have only cost a mere $100 per weekday and $150 on Sundays.

Now, Guyana faces the closure of its oldest independent newspaper. This is not just the loss of a business. It is a serious blow to press freedom. It narrows the space for independent thought. It weakens accountability. It diminishes public debate.

If there is a lesson in this moment, it is that democracy demands participation. Supporting independent journalism is one such form of participation. The Guyanese people once stood in lines for a single copy of Stabroek News. In the end, they allowed it to fade away.

History will record that the paper fought many battles. But in its final battle for survival, it stood largely alone.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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• Closure, journalism, newspaper, Peeping Tom, printery, Stabroek News

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