Shadow Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Roysdale Forde SC, has expressed shock and surprise at the news that the Guyana Press Association (GPA) is being denied unfettered access to cover the Guyana Energy Conference. He said the decision must be rescinded forthwith because it denies a most basic right of citizens in a democratic society.
“Restricting access to the fourth estate, the media, conflicts with the basic right of citizens to freely share and receive information and knowledge as intended under Article 146 of the Constitution, and a principle articulated in universal declarations and conventions.”
The Conference which is being held at the Marriott Hotel opens today and runs until February 17, 2023.
The GPA, in a statement, has accused the organisers of the conference of restricting their access to delegates and participants. In blasting the decision, the GPA noted that many of the attendees would be coming from free, open and democratic societies where press freedom and media access are the norm but would have to face a situation in Guyana where it is being restricted.
GPA said the motive is “sinister [and] nothing else but attempts at State-driven control of the media.”
The Member of Parliament (MP) said “this is a new low of the government to restrict press freedom at an important conference at which decisions will be made that will affect the course of the entire local communities, and in fact the economy of this country.”
According to the MP, ultimately whatever happens during the conference and comes out of the conference will impact the lives of ordinary Guyanese and unfettered access to all the media to the influential and power brokers are vital. Media operatives so desirous of interviewing individuals at the conference, local and or foreign, must be allowed access throughout.
“It is important for the press to have undeniable access to every and all aspect of this conference. It is the press who must keep ordinary Guyanese informed so they can be empowered to take action to protect not only their personal well-being and family but also the health of their communities.”
Guyanese continue to suffer the erosion of their social, political and economic rights, the consequence of President Ali’s divisive ‘one Guyana’ platform which is incompatible with good governance, the constitution and democratic values, the senior counsel emphatically declared.
“An end must be brought to the president’s draconian decision-making process and exclusion of Guyanese from information, knowledge and participation in this beloved country.”
