The GPA is biased against the State media
THE OPPOSITION media are now crying foul following remarks made at a recent political rally. The remarks categorised some of them as ‘vultures’ and ‘carrion crows’. They have  since demanded an apology, and have got their protector, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) to lobby on their behalf.
The question is: Who really should apologise?  For some time now, much has been said about the blatant and almost shameless allegiance of this section of the media to the Opposition and its defence of its political masters.
Much has been said about the fixed routine of the Opposition media deliberately avoiding the real issue, and distorting information to suit the cause of their masters. Much has been said how this was skilfully achieved with regard to the genesis of the most recent suspension of CNS Channel 6.
As a reminder, the Opposition media feel it was not an issue of airing divisive and inciting rhetoric, but one of suppressing freedom of expression. It was not an issue of an irresponsible broadcast with consequences of infringing on the religious freedom of thousands of Guyanese.
It was not an issue of the authorities taking action to prevent irresponsible broadcasters, who believe they can operate with impunity, from dividing an harmonious nation. Though peace-loving Guyanese felt that the advocacy for such potential division as contained in the irresponsible broadcast on Channel 6 could be equated to treason, that was not the issue for the Opposition media. History is a reminder of what transpired in Rwanda when the spewing of hatred by a particular section of the media there resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands.
Those who advocated  division and its related violence in Rwanda can be described as vultures waiting for dead meat. How else can one describe a countryman calling for the death of his/her compatriots? It must have been in that context that the Opposition media here, given their history and their recent support for what was aired on Channel 6, were equated as ‘vultures’ and ‘carrion crows’. So why are they demanding an apology? For what? An apology for exposing them as the voice of the Opposition? An apology for their being silent on the irresponsible behaviour of Anthony Vieira and Channel 6? An apology for their support of divisiveness?
Clearly, Guyanese expect those in authority to take action against anyone who seeks to divide and incite. Do the GPA and its Opposition media cohorts want an apology given that authorities did the right thing?
Of course, Guyanese know what’s right from what’s wrong, and as such are not oblivious to the transgressions of Channel 6 and the ludicrous demands of the GPA and their masters in the Opposition. It is the same group, which includes the GPA and the Opposition, that is first to chastise the government when they do not take action. Now that action was taken, that’s an issue.
First and foremost, the GPA and its cronies owe the nation an apology for supporting lawlessness. Recently in a protest outside NCN, known Opposition activists intimidated workers there and burnt documents and objects during what was supposed to be a peaceful protest. The GPA claims to be a representative body of all media workers. Why is it then that the GPA has made no mention of the actions meted out to workers at NCN during the protest action in question? Is it that the GPA is only concerned with media workers that are not in the employ of state entities?
The GPA was very vociferous in its support for Channel 6 when it was suspended for infringing  the Constitution. The GPA has never commented on the routine publishing of slander and libel by Freddie Kissoon in the Kaieteur News. This is the same GPA that advocates  ethical and professional journalism. Clearly a case of speaking with a forked tongue. Clearly a case of being biased against the State media. So who should really be apologising? Again, the GPA owes the NCN workers an apology for not representing them. State media operatives have rights too and the GPA must be reminded of this.
With regard to the Opposition’s protest outside NCN for equal air time, the GPA has clearly not informed its masters of what really obtains. The five minutes as offered by NCN has its genesis in the days of radio when the PNC was in office! They were the ones who gave the Opposition five minutes. More so, the Code of Conduct as signed by affiliates of the GPA, has enshrined in it the allocation of time for political parties. So whatever the Opposition is advocating  has already been signed by its loyalists within the media. This includes leading members of the GPA. So again, who should apologise? The answer is clear.