| The Guyana Government’s expressed intention to alert the United Nations on “the threat” that is being posedGordon Moseleyto peaceful elections by certain media houses, has been dismissed by the local press body as a means to intimidate and bring harm to independent journalists.The statement from the government was issued by Gail Teixeira, Presidential Adviser on Governance, Office of the President. She was writing in response to the GPA’s Monday statement condemning the retort of President Bharrat Jagdeo and Ms Teixeira to compare the Guyana media to the Rwandan media’s role in the 1994 genocide in that country.The GPA has called the statement “outlandish” saying “the media will not cower to this latest attempt at scare-mongering, intimidation and harassment of the media that has come to characterize the Jagdeo Presidency.The GPA noted the comedy of errors by the state apparatus, first issuing a statement by President Jagdeo himself, and then withdrawing it for the statement by Teixeira.“It goes to show the State machinery at work, in what appears to be a confused state of what it should and should not say,” the GPA stated.The local press body said it will stay on course with regard to the Media Code of Conduct which states rather clearly that the media should “hold our selves independent and free of any, or all, political control and direction, inducement,Cheap NFL jerseys China, promises or threats.”The GPA said that its members will continue to “hold ourselves independent and free of any, or all, control and direction from any of the political parties,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, electoral groups, or independent candidates”.The Association put the Guyana Government and the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic and any other party that may be thinking of making threats,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, on notice that they will be held accountable should any harm come to any journalist whether in the state or private media, because of this threat and other threats made on Sunday October 9, 2011 and any other threats.The GPA particularly noted Teixeira’s attempt to single out its President Gordon Moseley in her statement.“The personal attack against Mr. Moseley is a well known and detestable way to build an enemy that does not exist and may expose that person to reprisals,” the GPA declared.“Ms Teixeira, please note that we take this dubious ploy of yours seriously.”Instead of trying to lecture the media on objectivity, the GPA said Ms Teixeira could better spend her time, as the Guyana taxpayers are paying her to do, to advise the Government on governance.Instead of comparing the local media with what happened in Rwanda and issuing threats about going to the UN, the Guyana Government and the ruling party should make good use of the UN system to deal with matters of urgent public interest that have languished for years.These matters include issues of security, crime, narco-trafficking, death squads and corruption,Jerseys NFL Cheap, the press body declared.“The GPA repeats that it is barefaced shamefulness for the Guyana government to make a link or comparison or to have even alluded to the Rwanda situation.“The allusion to a real genocide is highly immoral and reprehensible and the GPA finds it repugnant.”The Association said this kind of confusion reveals the deep intolerance of a government and the ruling party to deal with issues of freedom of the press and access to information.Teixeira said in her statement that it is an indisputable fact that some media operatives and stations in Guyana called for ethnicGail Teixeiraviolence in the 1997 and 2001 elections resulting in the Bi-partisan Committee which crafted the broadcasting policy that is now enshrined word for word in the new Broadcasting Act 2011.“It is an indisputable fact that media operatives such as Enrico Woolford and Moses Nagamootoo, members of that committee, actively participated in the wording of that policy to ensure that the experience of those elections would never be repeated,” she stated.However,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Woolford in a response said that “the mind of Ms. Teixeira has done a severe editing job” and that he does not recall “actively participating in the wording of that broadcasting policy” that “is now enshrined word for word in the new Broadcasting Act 2011”.“I also wish to register my concern that Ms. Teixeira has established ‘indisputable facts’ by just her saying so.“Perhaps the person who said that a ‘FACT merely marks the point at which we allow Investigation to cease’ knew Ms. Teixeira would do just that and more!” Woolford stated.The GPA detailed recent transgressions against press freedom by the government.The Association noted that this is the same government that recently closed down a TV station by its own order, and only reopened it after public pressure; that tried to strangulate the independently owned Stabroek News by withholding government advertising; that has controlled the radio monopoly for the past 19 years and blatantly disregarded court orders to issue private radio licenses; that has not allowed the expansion of the television stations other than the state controlled one to occur; that fetched in security when it became uncomfortable with questions being asked by the Kaieteur News; that has called for its supporters to shun Demerara Waves and its online reporting; that has upheld a frivolous ban on Capitol News Journalist Gordon Moseley not to cover events at the Office of the President and State House for the past three years, as if those are the private preserves of one particular individual.The GPA said that it is committed to ensuring responsible coverage of the elections through fair, balanced and accurate reporting, with the ultimate goal of ensuring an informed electorate.The Association reiterated that it has “no dog in the race” and encouraged all political parties to keep their eyes on the issues and not resort to vile threats against the local media.The GPA has updated colleagues in Guyana, the Caribbean and internationally,NFL Jerseys China, and has called on international governments to take note. |
