The Government Information Agency (GINA) disassociates itself from the issuance of a purported press pass to Mr. Adam Harris and which was highlighted in the Sunday, September 12 and Monday, September 13, 2010 editions of the Kaieteur News, according to a press release from the agency yesterday.
The records would show that no such pass was issued by GINA, the release said.
“GINA only issues media passes which have a security feature and original signatures. Passes without the security feature and original signatures are considered bogus. On examining the pass which was shown to GINA by Mr. Harris, it is clear that the signatures were not original and the security feature missing.
“GINA wishes to note its disappointment at related statements published in the Kaieteur News on the dates mentioned above and utterances from the Guyana Press Association (GPA) published on Wednesday, September 14, 2010.
“Both the Kaieteur News and the GPA concluded that the bogus pass was issued by GINA. This conclusion was publicly articulated without the decency of observing the basic tenet of professional journalism of contacting the agency for a response in an effort to ascertain the authenticity of the said pass.
“In the light of such blatant unprofessional journalism, GINA can only conclude that statements made by the Kaieteur News and the GPA, with regard to the pass in question, were deliberate attempts to tarnish the agency’s image and the reputation of operatives attached. This smacks of gross narrow-mindedness by the Kaieteur News and the GPA.
“While GINA is not surprised, it finds it ironic that both the Kaieteur News and the GPA would resort to unprofessional practices in the field of journalism while advocating for the adherence to fair and balanced reporting.
“GINA has noted the concerns raised regarding the accreditation of media practitioners. While the criterion for such accreditation is currently being reviewed, GINA reiterates that access to official programmes and press conferences at the Office of the President and State House will only be facilitated when media operatives are in possession of a GINA-issued press pass,” the release concluded.