NOW that the 2011 General Elections are over and the results are known, it is my wish that that the political parties  work together for a better Guyana. The period prior, during and after the General Elections saw the Media Monitoring Unit of GECOM (MMU) issuing reports on the print and broadcast media with respect to coverage given to the various political parties and the overall performance of news reporting by the TV channels, radio and newspapers.
The reports were very informative and in one instance were used as a reference by the Commonwealth Observer Group to highlight the fact that the state-owned TV, radio and print media were biased in favour of the government and ruling party in their coverage and news reporting. I also recall the Unit citing the private media (Kaieteur News) for publishing racially divisive information that should have been censored. I say kudos to the MMU for trying to raise professional standards of journalism in the country.
I was therefore saddened to read on the Demerarawaves.com website that the Media Monitoring Unit will not be around for Local government Elections expected in 2012. It is regrettable that this highly professional and respected entity will cease to exist in the future. I distinctly recall reading somewhere in one of our daily newspapers the present Chairman of GECOM stating that the MMU should be made a permanent body and should not only be in operation during the elections. I wholeheartedly support this view. With the upcoming Local Government Elections, it is imperative that the MMU  be in operation. I think that the nation needs an explanation on the intended closure of the Media Monitoring Unit. Perhaps the Chairman of GECOM should be asked for his views on this matter.