I have seen the editorial in Stabroek News (23-08-2011) which makes interesting reading in emphasizing the hypocrisy and double standards of that newspapers’ editor. It deals with serious allegations of inappropriate behaviour. It refers to President Jagdeo being cited for “what was felt to be an unwise, even inappropriate friendship with a US-based Guyanese Edul Ahmad, who, just last week, had an indictment returned against him by a federal grand jury on charges of participating in a multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud scheme.”

It is public knowledge that His Excellency has never denied his 15-year friendship with Ahmad and has also stated publicly that he never countenanced any act of dishonesty by anyone.

What is bothersome and disgusting is that the editor has chosen to continue to bring Ahmad’s problems and associate same with the President although so much has already been given to Ahmad’s matter.
The editor’s slip is showing when he seeks to blame His Excellency for “an unwise and inappropriate friendship with Ahmad.” Could the president have known 15 years ago, in 1995-1996, that Ahmad would be charged in 2011?

The perception is that the editor has taken a personal stand in this matter without, at the same time, telling the Guyanese public that his brother-in-law, who is a lawyer in the USA, has been indicted by the American Federal Grand jury on charges similar to those for which Ahmad is before the court.

If all goes well and his brother-in-law is convicted he would be entitled to a term of imprisonment about 20 – 25 years.

If the editor is concerned that newspapers should let the public know about serious matters which attract the attention of the courts, especially where the parties to litigation are public figures, he should let us all know about the action between two multi-millionaire brothers who are fighting for financial shares in their family business – that although one of the brothers is dead – that one of the parties is the editor’s father and the other his father’s brother – and that the families of both are still seeking their pound of flesh.

A couple hundreds more newspapers could be sold if this family matter is serialised in the press as the newspaper is seeking to do with the Ahmad affair.
Would not the editor and Stabroek News be hailed as just and honourable news personnel? Their friends in the Guyana Press Association would hail them as surpassing the Benchops, the Kissoons and the Harrises’.
Go for it.