The Alliance For Change (AFC) in a release said whilst the party views with grave disappointment Guyana’s decline in press freedom it is not surprised. The 2023 report from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) shows Guyana dropped 26 spots, moving from 34 in 2022 to the 60th spot in 2023. The Report ranks 181 countries surveyed with one (1) as the country with the highest level of press freedom.
AFC Chairperson, Mrs. Cathy Hughes M.P, assured the party holds firmly to the view media workers must be allowed to carry out their duties responsibly without fear of intimidation and/or bullying, and expressed solidarity with journalists working to promote democracy and a better society, whilst urging all journalists to uphold the principles of good journalism.
“Regrettably, within the past few months especially, we have witnessed what can only be described as callous disregard for the role of the media in strengthening democracy and ensuring the basic human rights of all citizens are protected. Under this People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration, journalists have been the victims of cyber-attacks and ridicule and the Administration and State apparatus have done nothing to quell such behaviour.”
In fact, the Member of Parliament noted, on April 28th, Clayton Weimers, Reporters Without Borders Director (RSF), U.S Bureau issued a statement condemning what he termed, the harassment and intimidation of journalists in Guyana through online targeting and disrespect from the administration.
Weimers has stated “Whether directly attacking the media or encouraging supporters to do so with a wink and a nod, President Ali is putting journalists at risk for simply doing their jobs.”
The 2023 RSF Report notes that, “While Guyana protects freedom of speech and the right to information, journalists who oppose the authorities face intimidation.” This is an accurate and damning assessment of the PPP regime where threats, victimization, intimidation, and oppression are standard operating procedures, Hughes stated.
Hughes, who was telecommunications minister in the Coalition Government (APNU+AFC), informed “when taken in conjunction with Guyana’s ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), we see a regime that is subverting press freedom to hide its corruption.”
Last year, Guyana scored 40, the lowest for the English-speaking Caribbean and the second lowest from among the CARICOM countries on the CPI. It also ranked 85th among 180 countries surveyed.
RSF defines press freedom as, “the ability of journalists as individuals and collectives to select, produce, and disseminate news in the public interest independent of political, economic, legal, and social interference and in the absence of threats to their physical and mental safety.”
On World Press Freedom Day, May 3rd, the party reiterated commitment to freedom of the press and its respect for the role of the fourth estate in building a democratic society.
