Luncheon warns sensationalism can undermine unbiased investigation

HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon has said the “media sensationalism” surrounding the alleged Kwame McCoy tape can only undermine the commitment to “due process and a full and unbiased investigation”.

He made the comment at his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday at Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

“The tape that surfaced is claimed to be a fabrication by Mr. Kwame McCoy. The ardour with which the matter is being dealt, particularly by the media and other entities, is of interest,” Luncheon remarked.

He acknowledged that calls to have the matter investigated is reasonable as questions have surfaced about its authenticity.

“That is the tape’s authenticity, issues surrounding entrapment, issues surrounding wiretapping and also extortion.

“In the context of these uncertainties, the strident calls for various definitive interventions to be put in place, the media sensationalism can only undermine the commitment to due process and a full and unbiased investigation,” the Cabinet Secretary stated.

Luncheon said he has listened to the tape but would not swear that he heard from the beginning to the end.

“But I joined many other Guyanese who had little choice, unless they wanted to switch channels or move to other sources of public information from being familiar with the content of the tape.”

He said “there is a wealth of information out there, that allowed for other perspectives or maybe additional perspectives to be looked”.

“So it is not the Government generating perspectives that are an addition to what’s on the table. I merely brought them to your attention. Why those perspectives would need to be attended to, I think, in the throes of calls for action to be taken, most of us would want to be associated with responsible intervention,” Luncheon offered.

“So, I feel that it should be put on the table and, as the investigation proceeds with the support of those whose inputs are essential, indeed these many areas would be pronounced on and, if found to be, laid to rest,” Luncheon said.

Asked whether, in light of the investigation, McCoy will be requested to step aside, Luncheon said, in terms of the Office of the President, once the investigation proceeds, that will determine what action would be taken.

About Mc Coy’s noticeable absence from the briefing, the HPS said he applied for and was granted leave.

Mc Coy had sued three media houses, claiming $150M, for continued harassment surrounding the controversial broadcasts and publications.

He was granted an injunction, restraining the defendants, Prime News, Enrico Woolford of Capitol News and National Media Publishing Co. Ltd. from further broadcasting or publishing allegations related to the recording but the injunctive was, subsequently, discharged by Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang.

Mc Coy has denied that he is the other person in a recorded sex conversation with a 15-year-old boy and Police are investigating a complaint by the Liaison Officer to the President that he was impersonated.

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