I AM replying to the letter in the paper captioned “How much is the State propaganda apparatus costing Guyanese?” in the Kaieteur News of March 7, 2011. In this letter, Brandon Samaroo questions the cost of running the ‘state’s propaganda apparatus’. He also mentions the Guyana Chronicle, and NCN, and suggests other ways in which the government should allocate the expenditure of the cost of running these entities.
Samaroo must realize first and foremost, that through the national elections, the people of Guyana articulated clearly the group by which they want to be represented, and that group is the PPP.

It is this group that prepares and presents to the National Assembly, the National Budget, detailing the amount of money allotted for each sector. The people have spoken; and whether Brandon Samaroo likes it or not, how this country’s monetary resources are allocated and expended is not his decision to make.

Every country has their information machinery, including the USA. It updates the public about the projects and policies that the government is undertaking. This government is not the first, and it certainly will not be the last free and democratic government in the world which employs ‘propaganda’ as a means of creating public awareness of government activities.

The Guyana Chronicle, NCN, and the local radio station are all national entities. They are owned by the people, and as the democratically elected representative of the people, the government takes responsibility for their maintenance.

The police force, along with the other public sectors that the government oversees, are all given careful consideration when preparing the country’s budget and money is allotted appropriately to these sectors.

Brandon Samaroo must also realize that the government should not seek to punish or spite individuals who once held different political views from theirs. The government should not be questioned or criticized for employing individuals who were once PNC supporters, simply because it is a PPP government in power.

Is this the position of the AFC? Will only AFC supporters be employed should the AFC ever get a grasp at power, leaving supporters of other political parties on the sidelines simply because they once shared the views of another party? If this is the case, then this is a crying shame.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  The Chronicle would like to state categorically that we have never received any direct subvention (or financial support) from the Government. Our profitability is based only on prudent management and various business ventures.