FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION is a fundamental human right that must always be cherished and defended. It is best appreciated when recognized that it carries with it the obligation to equally respect the basic rights of others in an open, democratic society.
That Guyana is a functioning multi-party parliamentary democracy, where freedom of the media and freedom of expression clearly exist could perhaps only be denied, tongue in cheek, by those who expediently confuse REALITY with personal dislikes or outright political opposition to the government of the day.
Incidentally, that right to dissent is also constitutionally safeguarded, and is very often vigorously used and abused, at times quite recklessly to blacken the reputation of citizens in public life, as well as engage in outright malicious and hate-driven propaganda in Guyana.
A few recent examples would suffice for now: For instance, last month’s wild, irresponsible call by Tacuma Ogunseye, who, in speaking as an executive of the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) at a meeting at Beterverwagting, got emotionally carried away with his political utterances to call for a racial insurrection, if necessary, to force the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to form a coalition government, should it win the coming general election.
To this day, as far as is known, Ogunseye is yet to take up the invitation, publicly disclosed, from Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), Bishop Juan Edghill, for a meeting with the independent, constitutionally-protected body to explain the circumstances of his bizarre, highly inflammatory talk of racial insurrection.
Instead of any dispassionate response from social organizations and individuals with respectable credentials, there has been either silence, while some have pathetically attempted to signal mixed messages that have so far served to expose their own partisan, opportunistic agendas.
Then came the recent slanderous allegation against the ERC chairman, Bishop Edghill,
from Tony Vieira, using Channel Six as his medium, and going as far — or so very low — as to accuse him of having been involved in a case of murder.
Bishop Edghill responded with a stinging rebuke for such a wicked, highly irresponsible allegation, but those who share his outrage and are familiar with the law, feel that criminal proceedings should be pursued, both against the offender and the medium misused.
Just yesterday, the ERC chairman found himself having to chide, of all the well-known Guyanese intellectuals, Professor Clive Thomas for irresponsibly claiming that he (Bishop Edghill) was seeking to “manipulate African opinion.”
As reported in our yesterday’s edition, Dr Thomas was at the time participating in a programme on April 24 on HBTV Channel Nine (known to be linked with the main opposition PNCR), along with others, on ‘Walter Rodney’s Groundings’.
It would be baffling to a lot of Guyanese why — in view of his known enormous reputation as a scholar, committed Guyanese patriot, and well recognized by his own struggles for Guyana’s social and economic progress — should Professor Thomas have found it relevant to make such an accusation against Bishop Edghill, knowing that it could easily be exploited for narrow political objectives?
Or was it another instance of otherwise well intentioned public personalities getting unnecessarily caught up, ahead of the official election season, in a climate of emotional politicking that could only foment misunderstandings, divisions — or worse?
Whatever may have been the motive, the ERC chairman, known for his independent thinking, courage and commitment to national unity and social harmony among people of all ethnicities, has thought it necessary to firmly declare in a statement that he and the Commission “will not be influenced by praises, nor by criticisms…”
It is good to know of this reaffirmation of the ERC’s integrity as it continues to fulfil its constitutional functions.