The Government Information Agency (GINA) has noted with grave concern, the increased frequency of confrontation by some sections of the media when attending official functions of the government. The latest escapade in this regard was on Thursday, July 28, 2011, when media operatives representing Prime News, barged in on a closed-door session of the National Toshaos Council Meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal. A statement from GINA yesterday said, “GINA would like to remind all media operatives that all meetings, locally and internationally, have open and closed-door sessions as standard procedures. The latter is self-explanatory, that media operatives would not be granted access. This was evident during the RIO, UNASUR and CARICOM Summits held here and previous meetings of the National Toshaos Council.

“GINA finds it extremely difficult to believe that Prime News and other media houses would be unaware of such internationally observed procedures. The National Toshaos Council Meeting has been no different during the five years since its establishment. The open-door session was on Monday, July 25, 2011, while closed-door sessions were held during the remaining days.

“In the context of which Prime News is not oblivious of what obtains with regard to open-door and closed-door procedures of the meeting in question, GINA can only conclude that the newscast’s action of barging into the session on Thursday, July 28, 2011, was deliberate. Such actions clearly establish Prime News’ intention of being confrontational.

“GINA finds Prime News’ action to be woefully unprofessional, unethical and a blatant exhibition of total disregard for rules that have been tested. Further, GINA believes that Prime News, by its action, deliberately targeted the National Toshaos Council Meeting for confrontation. This must not be allowed to go unnoticed.

“On Wednesday, July 27, 2011, Kaieteur News reporter, Neil Marks, deliberately disrupted a press conference hosted by  Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon and Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh. GINA believes that these two incidents are not coincidental, but an orchestrated effort by some sections of the media to be confrontational.

“GINA urges the authorities of Prime News, the Kaieteur and the Guyana Press Association, to ensure that professional conduct is adhered to. GINA once again would like to encourage all media operatives to strive to be professional when executing their duties,” the statement concluded.