I recently came across an online headline from Demerara Waves stating, “Guyana Requests Formal Relationship with Meta/Facebook.” Upon reading the accompanying article, I was deeply appalled. According to the report, the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, wrote to Meta Platforms seeking an “institutional arrangement,” ostensibly because the People’s Progressive Party government is uncomfortable with certain types of content circulating on Facebook.
This development should alarm every citizen who values democratic norms. Governments in free societies do not curate acceptable speech for the public; they tolerate criticism, dissent, and scrutiny precisely because these are the lifeblood of democracy. When a government signals discomfort with online content and seeks special arrangements with global platforms, it raises legitimate concerns about censorship by proxy and the gradual erosion of free expression.
I want to encourage the young generation of Guyana to remain vigilant and resolute. We must never allow any government—regardless of party or persuasion—to silence us as a nation, whether on social media or through any other medium. Our constitutional democracy depends on the ability of citizens to speak freely, organize, and hold those in power accountable.
Accordingly, citizens should be prepared to organize peaceful mass protest against any behaviour that resembles authoritarian control over public discourse. Guyana is a democratic nation, not a communist state where dissent is managed or suppressed. The right to criticize government policy and expose wrongdoing is not a privilege granted by those in office; it is an inherent right of the people.
I call on news outlets, political parties, and civil society organizations to move decisively into the digital future. Develop independent application software (APP) and platforms to disseminate news, share verified information, and document instances of corruption and mistreatment of the Guyanese people. Diversifying our information channels is not only prudent—it is essential to safeguarding transparency, resilience, and democratic participation.
Free speech is not negotiable. It must be defended, exercised responsibly, and protected for generations to come.
