Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde is calling on Guyanese to harness the power of smartphones and social media to counter what he describes as the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)’s “false narrative” of progress and prosperity.
In an opinion piece, Forde argued that the government has used its control of state media, including the Guyana Chronicle and National Communications Network (NCN), to showcase ribbon-cutting ceremonies, infrastructure projects, and rising oil revenues, while downplaying persistent poverty, poor healthcare, and crumbling infrastructure across the country.
According to him, opposition parties and minority communities — including Indigenous peoples in the hinterland and Afro-Guyanese in both rural and urban areas — are routinely sidelined by state outlets, with their concerns about land rights, economic exclusion, and environmental degradation rarely given coverage.
“Every smartphone is a tool for truth,” Forde wrote, stressing that citizen journalism is now a critical force in holding the government accountable. He pointed to everyday examples of citizens documenting neglected roads, overcrowded classrooms, or flooded streets, noting that such images, when shared on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Instagram, reach far beyond Guyana’s borders and often capture more attention than official press releases.
He added that opposition leaders and activists are increasingly turning to social media platforms to bypass the “filters” of state media and communicate directly with supporters, a particularly vital development for rural and Indigenous communities historically excluded from the national conversation.
Forde also warned that as the elections draw closer, the government’s control over state media has intensified, leaving less space for opposition viewpoints or minority voices. He urged citizens to “document and share the truth” by filming broken infrastructure, recording testimonies of hardship, and highlighting the realities state media ignores.
“This is not just about exposing problems; it is about building a movement for accountability,” Forde stressed. “A single image of a flooded village can speak louder than a minister’s speech; a mother’s testimony about her struggles can resonate more than a government press release.”
The Senior Counsel said the struggle for truth is inseparable from the struggle for justice, adding that in today’s Guyana, “every citizen with a smartphone has the power to shape the nation’s future.”
