March 12 2019
The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has condemned attacks on the media by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, and has threatened to boycott his events and support editorial sanctions issued by media houses, if his behaviour persists.
It was highlighted that Jagdeo, during a recent press conference, in attempting to deflect a question raised by GPA President Nazima Raghubir, denounced it as being “stupid”. The release noted that this is just the latest in a history of similar attacks on media professionals documented over the past few months by the party leader. It added that the attacks are consistent with attacks he would have made as president from various political platforms.
“These were and are not limited to referring to journalists as “Carrion crows and vultures” and “opposition media” and singling out media houses,” GPA related.
They continued: “Over the months, Jagdeo has referred to private media outlets as “fake news”, “biased news”, or “government aligned news”. He is on record saying that he will call on his supporters to boycott one newscast and its parent company. He has singled out the privately owned Kaieteur News and state- owned Chronicle and former GPA President Gordon Moseley accusing him of being “government aligned.”
“Jagdeo’s comments are complemented by equally vitriolic and dangerous statements carried on his personal and party social media pages. In two recent posts, a news entity was referred to as “fake news” and a journalist as a “propagandist”, both of which have attracted negative and threatening comments,” the Association added.
Furthermore, the GPA opined that Jagdeo’s behaviour is encouraging threats to the lives and livelihoods of media professionals, and stated that if any harm is brought to these individuals as a consequence of those attacks, action will be taken.
“We will hold Jagdeo accountable if any harm is brought to our colleagues in keeping with his attacks. If these attacks continue, we will not hesitate to call on our members to boycott press events involving the Leader of the Opposition. Additionally, we stand by editorial sanctions media houses see fit to take in response to any continued attacks on the press,” it was stated.
Calling attention to the role of the PPP/C in all this, the GPA stated that it recognizes that the party’s hierarchy supports the attacks, and noted members’ continued silence on “Jagdeo’s attacks on the free press and freedom of expression”.
“We wish to remind this Jagdeo-led party that a free press whose work is done without hindrance and attacks is among the basic tenets of democracy that the party preaches about,” the release noted.
In this vein, the Association issued a reminder to “political parties, politicians and personalities” that journalists have a right to work without fear of intimidation and without attack.
