Press freedom and people’s rights are dwindling in Guyana

DEAR EDITOR,        Deep in their hearts, the ruling cabal believes that they have perfected the art of political distraction by demonstrating how easy it is to change the national conversation from their scandals and corrupt practices to other issues. But they are truly mistaken because the vast majority of Guyanese know that they are corrupt, incompetent and lack the managerial skills to run the country efficiently. Not only has the PPP regime undermined democracy, violated the constitution and stifled freedom of the press, but they have harassed those who have criticized their corrupt practices, including the publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, who has been threatened with violence by a government official.  So for the PPP cabal to say that they condemned the murderous attacks at Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine in France, is repulsive and hypocritical. Days before the AFC announced that it would bring a no confidence motion against the corrupt PPP regime, the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal prorogued Parliament and in the process became a dictatorial regime. The ruling cabal is so brazen that they believe that they are invincible and could do whatever they want and the people and opposition just have to accept it. Let the truth be told, the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime does not believe in freedom of the press and the people’s right to live in a free society and to express their opinions freely without fear of reprisals. There can be no dispute that for years they have harassed and threatened Kaieteur News, victimized and even killed those who have opposed their corrupt practices and exposed their thievery of the treasury and the country’s resources. The PPP is so anti-democratic that they have fired several of their critics. They have become so vindictive and evil that they have even written and demanded the dismissals of Carl Greenidge, Janette Bulkan and others from external organizations of which Guyana is a member. Yet, the PPP regime says it supports freedom of the press. Not even the deaf and the blind would believe a single word coming from the mouths of these charlatans. To put it mildly, the PPP cabal is un-diplomatic, anti-democratic and is an embarrassment to the people of Guyana. For the president to condone the obnoxious, vulgar and violent threats by the Attorney General against the staff of Kaieteur News, the abusive cussing-down of the US Ambassador at his residence by Priya Manickchand and the president’s nasty and rude remarks against an Amerindian citizen at Aishalton is not only unbecoming of the president, but also makes him unsuitable to be the Head of State. His condoning of vulgar behaviour and corrupt practices by ministers and senior PPP personnel in the government shows that he has no self-respect. Let’s call a spade a spade. The PPP fit the description of a ghetto regime when it instructed for confidential tax information of Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall to be released to private citizen Jagdeo and others, denied advertisements to Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, issued radio licences to family and friends of the regime, and used the state owned Chronicle, NCN-TV and radio stations to attack their opponents, spread propaganda and distort the truth. Furthermore, the dictatorial PPP regime has violated the journalistic code of ethics by filing over 50 law suits against Kaieteur News, banned certain reporters from the office of the president, and continued its victimization and threats against Kaieteur News and the independent media in general. It violated the democratic process when it prorogued Parliament, refused to hold local government for almost two decades, and continues to award contracts to friends and relatives without the Procurement Commission. What the people have is an anti-democratic government that is corrupt, vindictive, selfish and greedy, and has no integrity or morality. It should be booted out of office at the next election.

Derrick Arjune Asha Balbachan           

Rohit Misir

Allison Rutherford

Chandra Deolall

Asquith Rose

Vincent Nauth

Dr. Reginald Watkins

Donna Mathoo

Noel Moses

Dr. Merle Spenser-Marks

This is the same "FREE" press that the AG has shown some disrespect to and knows of plans against it. They would love to have it shut down....pulling fake charges and other slimy actions. Yeh right free my arse.

Your response speaks to Freedom of Expression. I think that what the AG said was extremely stupid, but all the same it goes to show that fundamental freedoms are alive and well in Guyana.

Press freedom in Guyana? That's a joke. The PPP hired Roger Khan to murder Wadell because he dared to speak out against the govt. They fired Freddie Kissoon and his wife from government jobs because he dared to criticize the PPP. Threw a bucket of shit on him, hired someone to punch him, cooked up a fake lawsuit for libel. They have Cowshit holding tax evasion charges against the man so that he could keep quiet. Threw Benschop in jail on a trumped up charge for exposing the murderous and corrupt ways of the PPP. Stopped government ads in the Stabroek and Kaieteur News, two newspapers with the largest circulation, and gave them to Bobby's Guyana Times which is used for toilet paper and wrapping fish. Prevented Lindeners from having TV stations. Gave the radio licences to their cronies only. Murdered reporters from the Kaieteur News. Trumped up phony tax evasion charges against Lall because he exposed Cowshit and Bai Shan Lin. The Minster barges into the Government radio station and orders them not to play calypsoes critical of the government. Chat3 Nandlall's threats against the Kaieteur News. They sue every media outlet and take them before their Kangaroo Court if they dare to expose PPP corruption. That's the press freedom we have in Guyana. 

Listen Mars, I am not an admirer of the PPP. Having said that, your response is full of nonsense.

Your response speaks to Freedom of Expression. I think that what the AG said was extremely stupid, but all the same it goes to show that fundamental freedoms are alive and well in Guyana.

Cain lives in CANADA!

what's your freakin point!?

Fundamental freedoms are alive and well in a democratic Guyana. PPP has done well.

an ignorant, race-baiting primitive like u saying so does not reality make

Better than wanting to be a panty model at Victoria Secret.