‘Press freedom under threat’ …former SN editor warns of govt. overreach, media collapse

May 06, 2026 News

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By Khadidja Ba

(Kaieteur News) – Former Editor-in-Chief of Stabroek News, Anand Persaud in a searing address marking World Press Freedom Day 2026, criticised the state of Guyana’s media, warning of administrative overreach, lack of government accountability, and emerging technological risks to journalism.

Persaud was the featured speaker at the Guyana Press Association’s Award and Cocktail Reception, held at the Hermandston Lodge Monday evening. Addressing the closure of Stabroek News two months ago, the former chief editor pointed out that the government’s withholding of nearly $87 million in advertising debt was not the sole reason. He characterised the move as an “outrageous abuse of press freedom” and indicative of a “government in financial disarray.”

“I think a cake shop would put this government to shame and no doubt has,” he said, criticising what he described as “squandermania” and the contrast between unpaid media bills and lavish state spending.

A central concern was the absence of direct engagement between the executive and the press. Persaud noted that President Irfaan Ali has not held a formal press conference since returning to office.

“If you’re the president of the country, you have to submit yourself to questioning,” Persaud insisted. “If you decide to insulate yourself from that, it means you either have things to hide or you’re unprepared to speak to the people through the media.”

He also called for the immediate replacement of Commissioner of Information Justice of Appeal (ret’d) Charles Ramson, accusing him of issuing “rude and crass responses” and delaying legitimate applications under the Access to Information Act.

Persaud further criticised the administration’s silence on U.S. naval excursions in the Caribbean that reportedly resulted in over 100 deaths, accusing the government of “fudging words while kowtowing to President Trump and his war machine.”

He urged local journalists to maintain an “arms-length” relationship with ExxonMobil, warning against restricted access and emphasising the need for independent scrutiny. He pointed to Stabroek News’ past investigations into hidden signing bonuses and questionable expense claims as examples of why such oversight remains essential.

Looking ahead, Persaud called for legislative reform, warning that Guyana’s Cybersecurity Act could be used to infringe on free speech if not properly constrained. He also proposed direct state support for the GPA through an annual subvention, arguing that oil revenues make such support both feasible and necessary.

On the role of technology, Persaud cautioned against over-reliance on artificial intelligence. “It is a sacred responsibility of reporters to ensure that they don’t become willing accomplices to artificial intelligence in the pursuit of stories that can only be told through the use of human sources and rigorous investigative work,” he said.

After outlining these domestic challenges, Persaud widened his lens to the global stage, aligning his remarks with the 2026 theme, Shaping a Future at Peace, Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security. He described the theme as a “lead-all” capturing the harsh realities faced by journalists worldwide.

He referenced conflicts in Sudan and Ukraine, but focused particularly on the Middle East, citing the Committee to Protect Journalists’ report that 260 journalists have been killed by Israel over the past two years across Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iran. He highlighted the 2025 killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif.

“He’d been aware that this is probably going to happen to him, and expecting that he might be killed, he left a farewell message for his family,” Persaud said. “It showed in a very venal way, in a very visceral way, how journalists go about doing their duties knowing that they could be at death’s door at any moment.”

“Press freedom means very little if you are dead,” he added, linking the global dangers of the profession to the local struggle for accountability and transparency.

He also pointed to the Trinidad Express’s use of air traffic control data to track a U.S. Air Force CN-235 during the “Absolute Resolve” operation in January 2026 as an example of innovative, data-driven journalism.

Following the address, the GPA honored six individuals for their enduring contributions

• Samantha Alleyne was recognised for 28 years of reporting on health, crime, and marginalised communities, earning multiple PAHO awards and setting a benchmark for coverage of women’s issues.
• Roddy Baird, a radio veteran with 36 years of service, played a key role in establishing community radio stations across Guyana’s hinterland.
• Claude David, with 37 years in the field, rose from sound engineer to leading sports editor at Kaieteur News.
• Leon Horatio, a 51-year veteran of the Guyana Chronicle, was credited with shaping the nation’s sports journalism.
• Burt Wilkinson, nearing 50 years in the profession and an Associated Press correspondent since 1988, was recognised for his steadfast defense of journalistic ethics, including his refusal to reveal sources in 1986.
• Miranda LaRose was honored for her fearless, ground-level reporting, including her coverage of the 2005 Great Flood and her long-running “What the People Say” column.

Persaud concluded with a warning drawn from philosopher Hannah Arendt: “The moment we no longer have a free press, anything can happen. What makes it possible for a totalitarian or any other dictatorship to rule is that people are not informed.”

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• Anand Persaud, journalism, Press Freedom, Stabroek News, threat

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