GPA calls for review of Cyber Crime Act 

The Guyana Press Association (GPA), on Monday, saluted the hard working men and women in the field of journalism as it joined the rest of the world in observing World Press Freedom Day 2021.

“To media workers, we salute you, our photographers and videograpers, video editors, managers and those who are not always visible but whose contribution adds value to the news product. To our journalists and editors who continue to toil beyond hours to bring the news, we salute you on this World Press Freedom Day,” the press association said in a statement.
Across the globe, Press Freedom is being observed today under the theme “Information as a Public Good”.
In keeping with the theme, GPA said State Parties have an important role and responsibility as do the disseminators to ensure that the public’s interest is served through the provision of content.

“This task has become most important in the period of the pandemic when the public depends on journalists to provide accurate information to counter not only the anti-vaxers but also those who churn out misinformation and disinformation,” it posited.
It noted too that states like Guyana have a critical role to facilitate this public good to the wider public. Against this background, the association urged the Guyana Government to create greater public awareness about the Access to Information mechanism so that not only journalists but the wider public can maximise its use.

“Additionally, the GPA urges the media corps to dedicate journalists to research particular topics and utilise the Access to Information mechanism that we believe needs to be revamped and made user-friendly in a simplified manner,” it said.
It added: “In an age when some media practitioners are driven merely by a few lines to catch Social Media eyes, we have to be more aware of the information we put in the public domain. We have to respectful of persons faced with trauma, our treatment of victims of sexual assault, abuse and human trafficking and most importantly understand our role in the protection of minors and how they are portrayed in the stories we write.”
It said too that access to ads remains an issue.
“The most pressing issue facing journalism is the viability of free and independent media because advertisers and sponsors believe that they get more returns on their dollars from Social Media, which, for the most part, is a minefield of misinformation and disinformation satisfied by how many likes and shares one gets. Worryingly, too, are elected officials who are perpetuating these types of acts under the guise of influences. Influences for who and for what? Just for votes?” it explained.

Nonetheless, GPA said it is important for media houses to continue to play their role by constantly educating the public that journalism standing on the pillars of fairness, accuracy, credibility and verification is the basis for informing and educating the public.

Importantly too, the press association called for a review of the Cyber Crime Act.
“We want to take this opportunity to request that the government as well as the opposition review the Cyber Crime Act with the intent to remove any clauses that restrict the freedom of expression.  We feel that any restriction on freedom of expression and the freedom to receive and impart information opens the door to abuse by officialdom,” it said.
It also used the opportunity to call on political parties, state or otherwise to ensure all media have timely and adequate access for interviews as well as press engagements.
“Over the past 24 months, officials both political parties and others have used the pandemic as an excuse to avoid the media, avoid engagement on national issues and provide much needed scrutiny,” while reiterating calls for the return of the weekly post-cabinet press briefing as well as more frequently press conferences by the Minister of Health and key health officials on the pandemic.