A PARTICULAR word readily comes to mind when perusing the local pro-Opposition newspapers, the Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News. That word is ‘barefaced’, which the Oxford dictionary explains as being ‘shameless’ and ‘undisguised’. These descriptions are never divorced from the two newspapers’ routine anti-government rhetoric, which has been published unhindered under the PPP/C administration. Readers should be reminded that the Kaieteur News was established under this government. While the Stabroek News came into existence under the Desmond Hoyte regime, it was not a welcome addition by that administration to the miniscule number of media entities that existed then. As a reminder, only one newspaper was in existence under the PNC’s tyrannical rule. When the Stabroek News was established, it was the only independent newspaper then. Today, there are three! The media landscape is now populated with some twenty-one television stations as against three that existed under the PNC; two for the majority of their misrule!

This is a clear indication that the PPP/C administration does not just articulate about freedom of expression and independence of the media; they demonstrate their commitment to this fundamental right as vindicated by the superfluity of media entities here. This cannot be disputed. It would be a folly to do so, since the evidence is overwhelming, and has led to the media fraternity expanding monumentally under this administration. Adequate accommodation at media conferences for the expansive local media corps is now challenging.

These are just a few indications of a democratic nation which has emerged in less than two decades from bankruptcy and oppression under the brutal PNC dictatorship. Today, media entities that freely accommodate opposition views and seditious tirades from anti-government commentators far outnumber the minute few that are perceived to be highlighting the immeasurable and undisputable progress which has transformed the country for the benefit of all.

The percentage of airtime given these entities, which include the State television channel, to inform the nation on development is a fraction of its overall programming. This is a vast difference from what obtains within the pro-Opposition media entities which have dedicated hours and hours of airtime and pages to disparaging reportage of the government. Again, this cannot be disputed, since the evidence is woefully overwhelming. One just has to read the Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News and look at the reports on Capitol News and Prime News and anti-government talk-shows for verification.

Any analysis would reveal that there are far more anti-government harangues, including some being treasonable and slanderous, that are encouraged and facilitated by pro-Opposition media entities as against what is considered favourable to government in State outlets. Yet, the Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News, through editorials, articles and columns, barefacedly accuse this administration of trying to suppress freedom of expression and the independency of the media!

They shamelessly try to misuse the inkling of instances when government rightfully intervened, as a last resort to restoring order, when anti-government crusaders transcended all ethical and professional boundaries of journalism and blatantly abuse freedom of expression to incite and spread fear. As a matter of fact, government has been accused by the overwhelming majority of civil society of not acting swiftly and often enough to prevent such scourge from permeating this peaceful nation. In some instances they are tantamount to aspects of terrorism.

The world is au fait with the overly stringent measures the United States of America has implemented to curb potential terrorist and acts of terrorism. Here, the “doomsday conspirators”, a fitting description of the alliance between the pro-Opposition media entities and their political masters, liberally spew their poisonous utterances. Readily, Freddie Kissoon comes to mind. With thousands and thousands of misinformed, slanderous and seditious articles, he hypocritically accuses this administration of stifling press freedom.

How could it be when he frequently boasts of the quantum of the articles he pens under this administration as against being banned and jailed by the PNC? Freddie’s position is harmonious with that of the Stabroek News, the Kaieteur News and the other anti-government media entities alluded to. How can the Stabroek News contemplate accusing the administration of suppressing press freedom when they publish their venomous rants everyday without interference? The same question applies to the others mentioned. The shenanigans of their cabal have not been obscure from public scrutiny. What they have attempted, is to try and conceal their political allegiance. Of course, they are unsuccessful. Loyalty has a way of exposing itself.