Dear Editor,
I have taken note of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) move to advocate for press freedom legislation but there is a fine line between press freedom and political control on the surface, this is a noble call—press freedom is a cornerstone of any democracy and must be defended. Yet, we must also recognise the dangers of how such legislation can be shaped, particularly under the present political climate.
Press freedom can be defined in many ways. In the wrong hands, the very legislation meant to guarantee freedom could be weaponised to silence voices of dissent. The greatest risk lies not only with traditional journalists but with the rise of alternative platforms—especially Facebook pages that are not run by trained journalists but nonetheless deliver credible news, highlight national problems, and give citizens a voice where the mainstream media sometimes fails.
A clever government can turn such legislation against these very platforms. The PPP administration, with its majority of 36 seats in Parliament, has the numbers to craft any law in its own favour. Imagine if they decide that all Facebook pages claiming to do news must be registered with a government agency or must apply for a permit to operate to have that kind of access to press freedom. This would immediately place restrictions on grassroots voices and independent outlets. It would transform “press freedom” into government-controlled freedom.
At this point, I will not put anything past the PPP Government. While the WPA’s intentions may be good, freedom often comes with hidden restrictions when managed by those in power. Legislation can sound protective but in reality, it can become a trap—limiting freedom of expression, creating bureaucratic hurdles for small voices, and giving the ruling party another tool to silence criticism.
Therefore, as we consider any press freedom law, the nation must remain vigilant. True freedom of the press should protect both the large media houses and the small digital voices of ordinary citizens. Anything less risks turning the dream of freedom into another form of control.
Yours truly,
Pt.Ubraj Narine, JP, COA
Former Staff Sgt.(GDF), Mayor
City of Georgetown
