In a tale as old as time, once more a sitting government of Guyana is seeking to exercise control over the media. Both the PPP and the PNC governments have been guilty of so doing. Over the years, various petty and underhand ploys such as refusing to grant independent radio and television licenses were the order of the day. Advertising revenue, a cornerstone of the income of any media house has been withheld from time to time by both governments, in attempts to sanction and squeeze the independent media operations and force those out of operation.
It should be noted that with respect to press freedom in Guyana, the 2023 report from Reporters Without Borders revealed that the country has dropped a staggering twenty-six (26) places from its ranking of thirty-four (34) in 2022, to sixty (60) this year on the world press freedom index.
Government censorship of the press has a long history in Guyana, beginning in the 1800s , when the Governor of then colony by way of letter informed publisher of the first newspaper Nicolaas Volkerts, that he was displeased with illiberal and ill-natured reflections, as they had no other tendency but to cause irritation among inhabitants. (Benjamin 2007)
As a child, apart from listening to BBC, VOA, Radio Antilles, CANA, Radio Deutsche Wella on my father's Philips shortwave radio, the weekly Catholic Standard bought at Sunday mass, was the only local alternative source of news in our household.
What was intended as a weekly newsletter of events and stories of interest in the local diocese, then became the source of news other than the mainstream media which, was government owned and controlled. At that time, there was no independent major newspaper. The two radio stations in the country, were then merged into the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation. No private radio stations were granted licenses. It followed that news was carefully tailored not to be critical of the government. In other words largely propaganda was peddled as news.
Thus, leading to the Catholic Standard being viewed as a more credible news source as opposed to the two main political party rags, The Mirror and New Nation. It was reminiscent of the publication of an underground resistance movement, as it began to address issues of justice and the denial of rights affecting the population. It was not a secret that then Prime Minster Forbes Burnham had summoned Bishop Benedict Singh on more than one occasion in relation to stories printed in the Standard. Back then, the government-owned press was used. Subsequently, the Standard was then barred from printing there. However, a small private printery took over producing the weekly publication. Newsprint was scarce, so the paper was printed on coloured bond paper. Bent on stifling press freedom, the government banned the importation of bond paper. Licenses for the importation of newsprint were also denied by it. Even donations of newsprint from sources outside of Guyana were not allowed.
There was one point when there was so much harassment from the then PNC government, that the late editor Fr. Andrew Morrison SJ. had himself been the victim of various threats, assaults, libel suits etc. simply because he dared to be a voice telling the other side of the story. Similarly, Fr. Bernard Darke who was brutally murdered in July 1979, while taking photographs for the Catholic Standard of the Working People's Alliance protesting the ruling PNC. It was subsequently established that heinous act was carried out by members of the House of Israel, a purportedly religious sect closely affiliated to the PNC. Its members were often sent to disrupt opposition rallies and protests.
In the late 1980s, following Burnham's death and Desmond Hoyte's ascension to the presidency, a more liberal climate prevailed. This period heralded the return of an independent newspaper in Guyana with the founding of the Stabroek News newspaper in 1986. However, Hoyte's tolerance of a free press seemed to have been short-lived. Shades of animus towards the slightest criticism of government policies were apparent. While addressing a rally, Hoyte referred to then Editor-in-Chief Stabroek News as the putagee mafia.
In July 2008, the Capitol News Reporter Gordon Mosely was barred from Office of the President and State House by PPP President Bharrat Jagdeo. The head of the Government Information News Agency, Neaz Subhan later issued a letter to Mosely informing him that his accreditation was withdrawn. This was because the reporter had responded by way of a letter to the press to Jagdeo's attack on his coverage of the Caricom Heads of Government Summit.
Additionally, during Jagdeo's tenure as president, all government advertisements were withdrawn from the Stabroek News, while the state run newspaper The Guyana Chronicle had the full complement of ads. The old lack of tolerance of any criticism directed to government policies once more reared its ugly head. Punitive measures such as withholding advertising in the paper, with a view to causing it financial hardship, became the order of the day. A practice in which the PPP also engaged when it came into power both in the previous reign and currently.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, yet another attempt is being made by the current government to control the press. In this case, in a well-orchestrated series of moves, it is attempting to have its agents infiltrate the Guyana Press Association. The advent of social media and citizen reporting, has allowed for the crossing of boundaries. By that I am referring to the infamous Mikhail Rodrigues who calls himself the Guyanese Critic. Within the last five years or so, Critic appeared on the scene turning up at various accident scenes, fires etc. with a camera filming and posting live to Face Book. A self-declared open government sympathiser/supporter, Critic has made no secret of his contempt for black Guyanese and has made many derogatory statements over the past couple of years, including stating that they should read. I am still attempting to understand, how it is that posting FB lives equates with being an actual reporter. Strangely enough, Critic suddenly seem to have access, where bona fide independent media operatives did not, to senior government officials. Namely Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. Critic began to host almost weekly interactions with Jagdeo. The use of the word interaction is deliberate since they were not interviews in the true sense of the word. Even to the untrained eye, these pseudo interviews were carefully staged. It is clear, that Critic was told what leading questions to ask so that Jagdeo could ramble on about what a great job the PPP was doing. Performances straight out of the propaganda handbooks of Russia, China and the DPRK.
One must question how it is that Critic, akin to an ambulance chaser with a camera has this kind of government access? This is a man who before running around with a camera, sold juice from a stall at the side of a store on Regent Street just off of Wellington Street. A crass, unqualified buffoon who has evidently had no formal training at any reputable media establishment, or possesses academic qualifications in media studies. If one listens to him "reporting" it is clear that he cannot even coherently string together a sentence.
So, what is the government's objective? Or what has it to gain by tying its bundle to Critic's?
I reckon its two-fold. By allowing Critic access to government events, the way is being paved for him to become legitimised as a reporter. Hence, giving Critic the impetus to apply for membership of the Guyana Press Association. Fortunately, the GPA recognises Critic for what he really is and denied his application. This brings me to the second part and that is Critic's insertion into the GPA. After all, a sure way of either controlling or destroying anything is from within. There is nothing that can convince me that Critic's role is not one of a puppet being deliberately positioned along with known PPP affiliate Neil Marks et al in an attempt to control the GPA.
Persisting with the folly, Critic on Friday, moved to the courts in an attempt to stop the GPA from holding its elections on Sunday. This nuisance action, was short-lived, as Acting Chief Justice Roxanne George, on Saturday dismissed same, stating that it was wholly misconceived. Justice George added that the GPA was not subject to judicial review. Rodrigues' attorney Samuel Glasgow was upbraided by the CJ who warned him against being selective in his interpretation of the Business Names Registration Act. (Demerara Waves)
Of note, is that in 2017, Critic was charged with fraudulent conversion of a G$2.2M van that was entrusted to him. He was placed on bail. The matter was later discontinued when the plaintiff failed to give evidence against him.
In another twist, Critic is the principal of Tepui Group Inc.which has partnered with Mohamed's Enterprise, to construct a USD5M concrete production facility at Providence, East Bank Demerara. Quite the meteoric rise in a short space of time for a vendor of juice wouldn't you say?
The GPA was correct in turning down this character's application for membership, as while his motives may not be as overt, his associations certainly are. At the end of the day, it needs to remain independent and call out the government when it impinges on the right to freedom of expression.
Pictured below is Rodrigues left, with Mohamed at their concrete production site.
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