The GPSU and Lewis and the others are just angry that they cannot continue to live off the backs of workers via the state's automatic deduction of union dues from the salary of government workers. 

The National Communication Network issued a World Press Freedom Day message in which it noted the silence of the GPA and GHRA following what it saw as an opposition attack on state media employees after they voted to withhold government subventions for GINA and NCN putting over 50 of these persons out of jobs.

Message on World Press Freedom Day

By Neaz Subhan, Director, Government Information Agency (GINA)

The observance of World Press Freedom Day 2012 here in Guyana would surely be shrouded in gloom following the actions of the combined Opposition to reduce the budget of the Government Information Agency (GINA) to one dollar. Their intent to close the Agency is clear given its effectiveness in executing its mandate. The reality is that all the staff stand to lose their jobs thereby jeopardising their ability to meet financial and family commitments. To force such an imposition on hard-working media professionals, can only be seen as a wanton attack on press freedom.

On this day, almost exclusively, the suppression of freedom of expression through authoritative means by some governments, is brought into focus. There is a plethora of examples in some countries of media entities being threatened or closed, media operatives being incarcerated with some, unfortunately, losing their lives in the cause. In the past, some private media workers here felt the brunt of such oppression with one principal operative being killed under questionable circumstances. Also during that time, one entity was repeatedly deprived of its right to import related printing materials in an effort to silence it.

Since 1992, freedom of expression has been restored, catalysing the rapid and continuous expansion of the private media. The free and openly extreme, critical analyses of the government, I dare say, rabid and seditious at times, are indicative of the freedoms the press now enjoy. Over the last two decades no media house was closed in exercising its right to such freedom and no media operative incarcerated in executing his/her constitutional right to freedom of expression. This clearly has to be an envious position by media operatives who are deprived of such rights and freedoms in some countries where those governments are guilty of media oppression.

The cut of GINA’s budgetary allocation in Parliament has placed Guyana in a unique position where it is the Opposition that has engineered action to deprive the professional media staff of their jobs and not the government. One can only hope that better sense will prevail and whatever leverage the Opposition has in the National Assembly would be used meaningfully and not to cause hardships. What is even more alarming is that the Guyana Press Association (GPA) has been noticeably silent on this issue. 

It is unfortunate that the GPA, which is never hesitant to make its voice heard on other related issues, has not seen the possible disbandment of GINA and the displacement of its staff as an attack on freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Given this year’s theme of, “Media Freedom helping to transform societies” to mark this day, it is unfortunate that the information that GINA disseminates which does exactly that, is now under threat from reaching those who have a right to be informed. 

Best wishes to all media workers across Guyana!

Do you mean literally reducing the labor force in the sugar industry a third and increasing the number of temporary workers is a human rights violation? How about the refusal to fund the Critchlow Labor College?

GINA and NCN ought to be wiped out top to bottom not merely reduced in monetary allocation. Not doing so and letting Kwame and Misir and his New Media Crew continue would be a the moral lapse in judgement of opposition politicians

Defining the deafening silence of the GPA on attack of State media

Dear Editor,
An interesting scenario currently exists in the local press corps today. While some media workers on the lower level pat their GINA colleagues on the back in sympathy and whisper their support, they have to be careful their seniors don’t see them do this.
In a country where the private media constantly bemoan the lack of press freedom, there is the freedom to condemn the work of their fellow professionals who work with the state, and openly support the parliamentary opposition as they try to muzzle the state’s press corps.
If this is not freedom of expression, then what is? It boggles the mind that the Guyana Press Association (GPA) is ready, willing and eager to jump on the bandwagon at the slightest sign of a perceived slight of a private media worker or entity, but refuse to look in the direction of a government worker.
This is not surprising since the GPA has never regarded a state media worker as a mainstream professional. Yet it would accept those same workers as professionals when they leave their government jobs and join the private media corps. Same person, same qualifications but only recognised when working with the private media!
Why then, if the state media is not recognised as comprising legitimate media professionals, was GINA condemned for not speaking out on the suspension of CNS 6? Did the GPA acknowledge then that GINA was legitimately a member of the local press corps? And now they are not when they are under attack?
The entrenched position of the GPA is that the state media, specifically GINA, does not consist of professional media workers, therefore has no need of support from the GPA. Only when its workers join the private media corps, will they be protected.
Additionally, the GPA is bent on ensuring that the state media is muzzled, giving total control of the media to the main opposition political parties, thus effectively killing once again, press freedom as was the case in the last administration.
This will leave the nation at the mercy of the pro-opposition media houses with no input from the Government creating a situation of no balanced coverage of news and issues, and no choice for persons to select what they want to see and hear.  It has been clearly demonstrated time and again, that the private media houses are almost 100% politically biased on the side of the opposition, with some bullishly refusing to recognise the right of the Government to have a communications department like any other governments of the world.
A brief description of that agency which exists in the United States says that The White House Communications Agency (WHCA) is dedicated to providing premier, worldwide, vital information services and communications support to the president and his staff. The White House Director of Communications, is part of the senior staff of the US President, and is responsible for developing and promoting the agenda of the President and leading its media campaign, and ensures that the administration’s message has been delivered successfully.
The communications office also works closely with cabinet level departments and other executive agencies in order to create a coherent strategy through which the President’s message can be disseminated.
The WHCA works in direct support of the president, the vice president, and senior White House staff. The mandate of the WHCA is clearly the same as GINA and possibly of all the others around the world. Why then does the Guyana Press Association and the Opposition seek to shut this agency down? It really boggles the mind at the rationale displayed here!
Rupert Singh

Shutting down propaganda is a necessity. NCN and GINA news reports are like  nancy stories from freedom house. Objectivity means slant of all sorts. The cartoon above amply say that. We are shutting down the horse of a different color...as the white boys above represent GINA white washing/

Every state in the democratic world has an agency that informs the Nation about Government policies and programs

Many do but the lie that you are an  independent body and not a propaganda machine is not sellable. If the government wants broad cast capacity they can use private appearances. I do not believe congress would for one day allow Obama to have a cadre of dedicated shills selling his story on a daily basis and as competition for the local stations. 

The Republicans slashed the National Foundation for the Arts and NPR to the bone on account they think they had a liberal slant. You folks do not have a slant. You are straight up a propaganda agency. Cutting your leach source to public funds is a fiduciary responsible for all on grounds of fundamental fairness. They treated you lightly. I want you disbanded and scattered to the four winds.  Our nation can do with party sanctioned liars selling their bilge on our dime.

NCN is one of the least ethical corporations in the world

DEAR EDITOR,
The NCN prides itself as a national broadcaster yet it is one of the least ethical corporations in the world. Here is why:

First, the most apt situation that describes the unethical behaviour of that corporation is its blunt and shameful refusal to air the views of all Guyanese, regardless of political inclinations. For nineteen years, NCN accepted substantial sums of money through subventions from the public purse. These sums have helped that network to enhance its communication infrastructure. That placed NCN ahead of many privately-owned television stations that could not afford to procure modern communication equipment and upgrade the technical competencies of their staff.  Yet, for all of that, its management consistently refuses to adequately air and report on the views and opinions of the public through their representatives – the opposition.
This results in three things:

1. Stifling of the free flow and expression of ideas, opinions and views. This inhibits the development of democracy and retards national growth

2. Making it difficult for NCN to hold the government accountable which is the duty of the fourth estate. NCN has demonstrated that it has taken the side of the government, and in fact, acts as a public relations arm for it.
3. Putting those journalists and reporters who want to be professional in a difficult position. They are obliged to report in keeping with the network’s view of the government and the opposition. It constrains them to act in an unethical manner and destroys professional pride.

Secondly, the NCN is using its workers as a front to create an artificial crisis. Ordinary workers, whose only desire is to earn a living, are used to protest the opposition through different activities. This is not only unethical but tantamount to an abuse of managerial power and the rights of ordinary workers. Rather than change its ways, management prefers to indulge in sacrificing their workers. It is a show of a lack of organizational care on the part of NCN.

Thirdly, the drive to do right is not part of the DNA of the management of NCN. This is so because many of its senior managers are really PPP/C activists and not real professional journalists. As a result, they do not see the need to practice the features of good news reporting including objectivity, balance, and fairness. A good case in point is the programmes on the cuts made by the opposition to the national budget 2012.

Almost every day for the last week or so, NCN convened panel discussions and talk shows. Yet, its management did not consider it prudent and fair to invite leaders of the combined opposition to sit on even one of the numerous on-air discussions, to comment on their actions and engage the public. Only PPP/C Members of Parliament appeared on those so-called media shows overdoing themselves and falling over each other to express hurt and to call the opposition names, pandering to their supporters.

Their action speaks to a false but strong view held by some PPP/C members that they alone know what is good for Guyana. No one else. Therefore, the views of the opposition are not worthy of air time on NCN.

However, the management of NCN fails to acknowledge that the majority of Guyanese voted for the combined opposition. In that sense, the opposition has greater legitimacy to talk to the people than the minority government because they, the people, have reposed more trust in the opposition than the minority government. The people want to hear their representatives through the channel that has been receiving part of its taxes through subventions for nineteen years. NCN is denying them that right. It is wrong and unethical. NCN is one of the least ethical corporations in the world.
Roy Kingston