Dear Editor,
It is both alarming and disheartening to witness the alarming silence of Guyana’s media on one of the most explosive stories of the year. When human rights activist Melissa Atwell made her shocking accusation that the Attorney General—one of the highest legal officers in the country—was her source of damning, salacious information about his own PPP colleagues, one would have expected the media to seize upon this revelation with the rigor it deserves. Instead, they chose silence.
This glaring omission raises uncomfortable questions about the role and integrity of the press in our democracy. While they eagerly reported on the Attorney General’s ill-conceived lawsuit against Atwell, the media pointedly ignored her own press release, where she responded to his statement and elaborated on her claims. Why this selective approach to news? Why was Atwell’s press release not given the same prominence?
This pattern of behavior is not new. The media routinely and unquestioningly regurgitate stories issued by the Department of Public Information (DPI), effectively functioning as an extension of government propaganda rather than an independent fourth estate. Week after week, journalists sit through Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s press conferences, yet they dare not ask him hard questions or hold him accountable for his statements. The press appears to tiptoe around the political elite, avoiding the real issues that matter to the public.
Such timidity undermines the role of a free press in a democracy. It is the media’s job to speak truth to power, to hold leaders accountable, and to ensure that citizens have access to all sides of a story. By failing to cover Atwell’s allegations with the same vigor they applied to the Attorney General’s response, the media has abdicated this responsibility.
This behavior begs the question, are the media compromised, or are they simply cowards? In either case, the people of Guyana deserve better. A free and independent press is a cornerstone of any democracy, especially a fledgling one like ours. Without it, the public is left vulnerable to manipulation, misinformation, and the unchecked power of the state.
If the media continues to allow itself to be cowed by political figures like Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali, if it continues to avoid stories that challenge the status quo, it risks becoming irrelevant. Worse, it risks becoming complicit in the erosion of democratic norms and freedoms in Guyana.
It is time for Guyana’s media to remember their duty to the people. They must report the news fearlessly, fairly, and without favor. Anything less is a betrayal of their purpose and their audience.
Sincerely,
Pauline Brown-Williams
Editor’s Note
Village Voice News has provided comprehensive coverage of this story, presenting all perspectives from its inception.
