Hogwash.

Guyana has freedom of expression and FREE press. This report is just, Hogwash.

Guyana is not a democracy and do not have freedom. 

Why you ah live deh den? Wah you nah guh shack up wid you Trinidad bai fren?

We will open a new business in Orlando. 

Wah business? Sell bush rum and pump train wheel? 

Today May 3 is WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY.

According to UNESCO, "World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. It is an opportunity to:

• celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom;
• assess the state of press freedom throughout the world;
• defend the media from attacks on their independence;
• pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty."

Jagdoe gee all he frens and family dem de radio licence. Bobby and Jagdoe now a run de media.

STABROEK NEWS, May 3 --- Last evening a number of media workers–journalists and editors–were given awards by Ambassador of the United States Brent Hardt for their sterling contributions to the profession in the various fields. The awards were handed out at a cocktail reception to celebrate World Press Freedom day. In this Arian Browne photo are (from right): Vanessa Narine (Guyana Chronicle), Mark Murray (Capitol News), Oluatoyin Alleyne (Stabroek News), Royston Drakes (Capitol News), Latoya Giles (Kaieteur News), Ambassador Hardt, Zena Henry (Kaieteur News), Gordon Moseley (Newssource), Nazima Raghubir (Insight Magazine), Gaulbert Sutherland (Stabroek News), Enrico Woolford (Capitol News), Denis Chabrol (Demerara Waves) and Stabroek News Editor-in-Chief Anand Persaud.

Stabroek News senior reporter Oluatoyin Alleyne receiving a token of recognition for her reporting on trafficking in persons from US Ambassador Brent Hardt on Friday at a reception he hosted in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day.

Stabroek News senior reporter Gaulbert Sutherland receiving a token of appreciation for his environmental reporting work from US Ambassador Brent Hardt (left) on Friday.

I see a foreign meddling in Guyana's affairs.

History has a habit of repeating it self. We had 28 years of dictatorship and rigged election the first time around.

Look at this Donkey.

Nothing wrong when US govt step in to help the PPP and force PNC to hold free & Fair elections.

But the minute the same USA step in and remind PPP .....Not Holding the Local Govt Elections in 20 years...is same or worse than rigging the elections.....Dem Same PPP Boys turn around and trying fuh hide dem Batty Poke.

According your YOUR definition.  Does the US has democracy when you can win the popular vote but lose the election?  Every system has its flaws however, as long as they stick to the principle and rules within which they are intended to operate.  Guyana is a democracy albeit with some inherent flaws. 

Guyana feels a lot more free than in the US, especially for a black/brown man.  The police/law enforcement are the long arm against social advancement of the black/brown.  They use the laws to harass and criminalize the youth depriving them of financial aid for higher education and taking away their voting rights.  This drives them further into confinement, isolation and deprivation and eventually more crime.

Before talking about Guyana, Mr Hardt should address the disenfranchisement being practiced right here in the USA.  Guyana perceived lack of certain freedoms are driven by domestic terrorism.  Guyana "Al Qaeda" are hiding out in Buxton/Agricola/Linden.  The GoG has to be very watchful.

your PPP anti-American rant notwithstanding . . .

the Guyana "Al Qaeda" terrorists are headquartered in Freedom House and succoured by the Guyana Gov't  - a quid pro quo to protect their ethnocracy and provide necessary 'space' to rob the Guyanese people

the FBI and DEA know this . . .that's why the 'watch list' is so long

we ah watch alyuh

Freedom of the press is a joke in Guyana.

Kaieteur News is sued for publishing a satirical article. They bribe the judges and sue the newspapers to shut them up.
A Government minister bans NCN from playing calypsoes critical of the government.
The Government withdraws the publishing of ads in the two newspapers with the largest circulation (Stabroek and Kaieteur News) because do not publish PPP propaganda and gives them to Jagdeo boyfriend Bobby's Guyana Times which is used primarily for wrapping fish at the market.
Columnist Freddie Kissoon and his wife are fired from their government jobs for criticizing the government. He is constantly harassed by PPP lackeys throwing shit on him and beating him. They even cooked up a fake lawsuit for libel.
NCN and The Chronicle funded by taxpayers, are used as propaganda arms of the PPP.
Journalist Ronald Wadell is murdered by the PPP Phantom Squad for having an anti PPP agenda.
Radio licences handed out to PPP cronies in direct contradiction of the laws.
NCN producer suspended for airing budget debates of opposition parties.
NCN the only TV station that is licensed to broadcast in Linden.

Bai yuh see wah happen wen yuh bitch slap Yugi early sunday marning...de man disappear...probably gane jump in silane trench...

Sachin yuh have to understand....yugee....he is a Batty-poke.

When Kwame was a" PNC House of Israel Thug".....he was Bad...

But move Kwame over to Office of the President and put him in the Central Committee ahead of Anil because he is now a "PPP Black Hindu"

You mean Mr Roger Khan is Guyana Al Qaeda? 

Moses Nagamootoo, a champion of press freedom in Guyana and former professional journalist, attended the US Ambassador's reception to mark World Press Freedom Day.

Dear Editor,

All Guyanese who value the tenets of democratic governance, welcome US Ambassador Brent Hardt’s remarks on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, on May 2. All right-thinking citizens would agree with academic experts and international organisations throughout the world, that democracy simply does not exist in the absence of a free press.

Editor, the truth is self-evident: the electorate cannot make informed decisions unless they have the facts. The citizens can only exercise control over the government if they are aware of the decisions being made by those in authority. And the way that the citizens obtain such information, is through a free press.

Therefore, Guyanese need a free press in order to have real, informed electoral freedom and social stability. As Abraham Lincoln said: “Let the people be aware of the facts, and the country will be calm.”

Editor, there is a direct correlation between press freedom and human rights; in countries where the press is oppressed, the people are also oppressed and abused. We all know of the total lack of press freedom in North Korea, and we also know of the massive human rights abuses, including random executions. From China, where even the internet is censored, we receive reports of political torture, imprisonment and executions. In Cuba and Pakistan where the media are tightly controlled, there are numerous reports of gross human rights abuses. In Guyana, the situation has not yet deteriorated to those levels. But given current trends, this may be only a matter of time. So will we allow it to happen, or will we take back our country?

Freedom to exchange ideas is not only a democratic norm; it is not only protected by the Constitution of Guyana, but it is also recognised by international treaties and conventions. According Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and, The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) all have similar provisions.

Of course we would expect that anti-democratic, autocratic, and dictatorial forces, would oppose Ambassador Hardt’s contentions. The forces which condone corruption, secrecy and lack of transparency would never want press freedom. So they will make excuses and try to confuse the issue.

Such wicked forces will claim that the independent media need to be more responsible and should not criticise politicians. But this is a spurious, invalid excuse for attacking the press.

The fact is: it is recognised by respected bodies, that political organisations, institutions and individuals must be subject to greater scrutiny and criticism. In fact, this recognition was upheld by the European Court of Human Rights (ECoHR) as early as 1986, in the case of Lingens vs Austria. The court ruled that criticizing politicians is the job and duty of the media. Therefore, the press cannot be penalised for doing their job.

The oppressors will also make the old excuse, that there was no freedom of the press before 1992. But this excuse also has no merit. If the ruling regime claims to be democratic, then how can they compare themselves to the pre-1992 regime, which they say was a dictatorship? It is the comparison of apples with oranges.

Editor, Ambassador Hardt is correct: it is beyond question that this PPP/C regime is progressively eroding freedom of expression, and whittling away freedom of the press. It is equally clear that this administration will do anything and everything to stymie democratic reforms.

So what can we do? Well, we can take away their power. After all, that is our right.

We must demand elections and take back our freedom and our country.

Yours faithfully,

Mark DaCosta

 Old Man Moses with the alleged abuser in the background.

Ask Moses how them PNC broke his bones and this shameless man is crying about freedom of press.

What a shameless bunch. Moses is a worthless stray dog.

Antiman Jalili:

Fact: Moses is a stray dog.

Antiman Jalili:

Fact: Sugar Workers chased Moses and called him a traitor and told him to go and cut cane.

Fact: Moses remains a stray dog. He is a very dirty Indian. 

As we celebrate Indian Arrival day, we will never forget traitors like Moses.

Moses is like Arjuna. He must fight the evil forces that have taken over Guyana under the PPP/C regime.

We sure should not forget murderers like Jagdeo. The Sawh family still waiting for justice.

Moses is no Arjuna. He is a traitor and a stray dog.

As we celebrate Indian Arrival day, we will never forgive traitors like Moses.

All British Indians are stray dogs. The Dutch were a lot more selective with the Indians they picked for Suriname.

The modern-day Dritarashtra clan, greedy for power and wealth.

One should not be judged based on race.  Guyana in not an Indian society but multicultural and diverse.  The PNC is not all bad, they do have a lot to offer and Indians should feel free to embrace them if their policies and politics coincide.  However, the PNC is such a racist organization hell bent on re-establishing Afro paramountcy.  This usually cause any Indian to react negatively and view any Indian joining as a traitor.