IPI says Guyana situation “dangerous”, “unusual”

..as private media files radio licences complaint with int’l press body

A powerful global press body renowned for its fight to protect journalists is now considering complaints by owners of a number of prominent media houses in Guyana.
In a highly charged meeting yesterday, the controversial issuance of the several radio licences by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, days before he stepped down from office in 2011, was raised.

Representatives of the Int’l Press Institute and representatives of local media houses meeting yesterday.

The situation has now prompted Alison Bethel McKenzie, Executive Director of the International Press Institute (IPI), to describe the situation, as reported, to be a highly “dangerous” and “unusual” one.
Dangerous because of the ease which government seems to be moving against private media houses and unusual as there is not another likely scenario where the President of a country is also the Minister of Information.
McKenzie disclosed that IPI has the power to “hit” where it hurts the most –the pocket. The body could approach the US Government and other donors and apply pressure, she said. She listed instances, including Turkey, as an example where pressure was mounted on its embassies over journalists who were locked up. There were immediate positive results.
IPI is a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists dedicated to safeguarding of press freedom and the improvement of the practices of journalism.
In addition to McKenzie, World Editor of the Miami Herald, John Yearwood, and Scott Griffen, IPI’s Press Freedom Advisor for the Latin America and the Caribbean were also present at the meeting held at the CIDA building on Main and New Market Streets.
Also there were Publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall; Enrico Woolford of Capitol News, Charles Griffith of HBTV Channel Nine; freelance reporter, Bert Wilkinson; journalists Julia Johnson and Nazima Raghubir of Prime News; Dennis Chabrol of Demerara Waves, Gordon Moseley of News Source GY; Senior Reporter and Assistant Editor of Kaieteur News, Leonard Gildarie, and representatives from the state-owned Guyana Chronicle and the National Communications Network.
According to McKenzie and Yearwood, IPI is in Guyana on a campaign to decriminalize the defamation laws which allow media houses to be sued.
The officials heard how the previous administration broke a binding commitment with the Opposition not to issue radio licences until new broadcast legislations and Broadcast Authority were in place. Although the legislations were passed by Jagdeo, he nevertheless went ahead and issued 11 radio licences, to mainly party officials and supporters. One of the persons issued licences was Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, a close friend of the former President.
IPI was also told how television stations were stopped from expanding yet one television station (Channel 28) was illegally sold and transferred to Ramroop.
Complaints were also raised over Government’s insistence on issuing press passes for journalists without even the Guyana Press Association (GPA) being told who these were given to.
Opposition’s complaints over the apparent bias of the Government Information Agency (GINA) and a report by the Opposition Leader were also raised along with NCN’s unfair competition with private TV stations for ads.
There was also an acknowledgement that there is an increase of attacks on private media by Government in recent times with the former being described as “opposition media”.
According to the media owners, they are also concerned about the composition of the Broadcast Authority which comprises mainly members of the ruling party and close supporters. Its current Chairperson is PPP Parliamentarian, Bibi Shadick. Other members include Charles Ramson, a lawyer formerly employed with Office of the President.
Woolford claimed that originally, it was the agreement that the Broadcast Authority would report to the National Assembly. However, all these commitments were broken.
The banning of Moseley by the former President from being able to attend events at Office of the President and State House was also raised.
IPI has met officials from local US and Canadian Embassies and Prime Minister Sam Hinds, Kaieteur News was told.
On Friday, the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), of which the GPA is part, said that the radio licences issue threatens press freedom in Guyana.
There have been widespread calls for the radio licences to be recalled but government has refused to budge, defending Jagdeo and saying that he did nothing wrong.