AROUND the world it seems that newspaper editors have a penchant for giving their cartoonists great freedom in implementing their craft.We are fortunate in Guyana to have not only courageous cartoonists, but also those who usually have a keen insight on the workings of society. However, as I have had cause to emphasise previously, with this latitude there must be a deep sense of responsibility.

It is a fact that many areas in our society are fragile. It is my humble opinion that newspapers – in addition to their quest for and the reporting of truth – must pursue the paths that nurture, promote and support stability, especially of those institutions, the vitality and credibility of which are of paramount importance to the development of a forward moving State.

On Saturday, July 2, 2011, the Stabroek News cartoonist proceeded into the realms of fantasy and untruth, and possibly illegality. Mr. Harris depicted a scenario in which a Registration Centre (only to be interpreted as a GECOM facility) “run out of film”, “run out of Registration Forms”, “run out of Registration Cards” and “run out of staff”.
When and where, pray tell, did any of GECOM’s Registration Officers run out of film, Registration Forms, Registration cards and staff? What new dotishness is this?
What is worse is that the final panel of the cartoon constructed the reaction (to non-events) of the potential registrant, whereby he “run out of the Registration Centre”.

You, Sir, and Mr. Harris should by now know that Citizen’s Registration is not an optional event; one does not have a choice of a “picking-up-my-bat-and-ball-and-going-home” vexed reaction. Rather, Registration – associated with the production of National ID cards – is compulsory by law.

The “option” taken by the cartoon character is not something that a serious newspaper should encourage or inculcate in its readers.
Having said all of the above, allow me to thank you and Mr. Harris for all the ‘stress relief’ Justin Concern has afforded us in the past, and for any positive contribution towards the furtherance of GECOM’s undertakings in the future.