IT is hard to understand sometimes why journalists who are supposed to be responsible and fair in their judgment and utterances often sully their reputation and credibility by pandering to opposition sentiments. I listened to Plain Talk over the weekend when Gordon Mosely, Adam Harris, and Dennis Chabrol were guests commenting on the ban that was placed on Mosely sometime ago.
This Government, I believe, has been most tolerable when it comes to the media in Guyana. Particularly when you examine what transpired under PNC rule. And these same individuals have caused many to assert that they are on the payroll of the opposition since they are perceived to be furthering the opposition’s agenda. However, not to detract from the real issue, these men have used the ban on Mosely as a situation that replicates for all journalists. This is a non-starter since Mosely’s situation does not apply to anyone else. He was banned from the Office of the President and State House because of what was seen as his ‘disrespect’ towards the President and any such behaviour is not tolerated in any other country, so why should it be allowed to happen here?
If you are going to go into the home or office of someone and disrespect them, then it would be up to that person to decide whether you would be allowed to visit again.
This incident, the panel used to link to the treatment of the media, stating that Government is stifling the media and freedom of expression. In a country where the media publish and air whatever they want, whether inflammatory in nature, anti-government or otherwise, it is surprising that media practitioners would make such statements, when the mere fact that they are allowed on air to make these statements in the first instance, speaks to the freedom of expression that Guyanese enjoy to the fullest.