Shouldn’t Glen Lall be put under a microscope?
There is no longer any ambiguity that the Kaieteur News has transgressed the boundaries of professional journalism. This is glaring through its publishing of numerous scathing, personal attacks on government officials and is done under the guise of false pretence that the paper is delivering on its “mandate” to keep the nation informed. Journalistic entities operate within the parameters of presenting information on most, if not all, aspects of human existence. However, the delivery of such awareness comes with the adherence to responsible, ethical and fair practices of the trade.
The intention here is not to have a revisit of the tenets of journalism, even though the Kaieteur News would be a huge beneficiary. Nevertheless, given the universal acceptance of basic journalistic ethics, the Kaieteur News can only be described as being devoid of any inkling of such.
Not surprisingly, its unwarranted attacks, the latest being on the Honourable Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, is nothing new. Such vile and slanderous assaults have been the hallmark of the paper over the years following its merger with the Opposition with a common goal of disparaging government and its officials for political gratification.
The role of an Opposition Party is well defined. In Guyana, its “terms of reference” seems to deviate from what is considered acceptable norms to include unnecessary protests, malicious calls for boycott and unwarranted efforts to stymie economic progress and stability.
Similarly, the tenets of responsible journalism have been enshrined and have provided guidance to thousands who engage in fair and unbiased reporting. Again, in Guyana, the Kaieteur News suffers chronically from obliviousness of such tenets and has become embedded in the realms of politics with octopus-like embrace of the Opposition.
Such strong, unmistakable, unethical bonds between the Kaieteur News, which falsely proclaims to be an independent newspaper and the Opposition, are the genesis of the sustained contemptible attacks on the government and its officials especially former President Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister Irfaan Ali.
Among the wild and unsubstantiated accusations which are the conduits for the Kaieteur News’ venom on these two gentlemen, are the cost and acquisition of their homes. The Kaieteur News and its political cohorts have created the impression that it seems against the law for the two in question and other government officials to own a home!
Apparently the home of almost every government official is deemed a “mansion” by the Kaieteur News. What is really a mansion? Aaron Spelling built a mansion, well technically his wife. It became arguably the most recognisable building on the Hollywood scene. It was sold for US$150 million! This is approximately 30 billion Guyana dollars! Now that’s a mansion. From this, it’s clear that the Kaieteur News uses such adjectives to exaggerate and sensationalise in a deliberate effort to tarnish the characters of officials, in this case the former President and Minister Ali.
Further, the newspaper’s engrained trait of publishing false information holds true in these cases. Minister Ali vehemently debunked the paper’s wild and prominent assertions that he acquired the property only after being named to Cabinet. Subsequent information has once again revealed the inaccuracies of the Kaieteur News.
The building in question was acquired by Ali long before he became a Minister. In addition, the building was purchased from GuySuCo. It should not be forgotten that Leonora was once home to a vibrant sugar estate. Sugar estates come with a plethora of buildings within its vicinity for various purposes, including for the provision of homes for staff. These buildings are generally larger than the average homes and were built decades ago!
In this regard, anyone purchasing such a home would have to invest in rehabilitation and for any design change if necessary. A look at the houses in Diamond, East Bank Demerara, which were once part of that estate, would confirm size, style and age.
Over the years they were probably given a facelift. The point is, these houses and the one bought by Minister Ali, are not mansions as the Kaieteur News makes it to be. Even if it is, doesn’t Minister Ali, like any Guyanese, have the right to chose and build the type of house he wishes?
By adding a pool and pool-house is no different from what thousands of other Guyanese have done. By extension, former President Jagdeo has the right to build whatever house he chooses too!
If others were to do what the Kaieteur News did by invading the privacy of Minister Ali and others, then the newspaper’s Publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, should be put under the same scrutiny.
His known properties and those he has interest in, including a prominent shoe store and a Mall on Regent Street, the Saffon Street and Eccles Industrial Site premises and his mansion on the East Bank, should be photographed and he should be asked to explain his acquisition of them.
After all, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander! Apparently, he owns much more than what was mentioned. Journalists should ask Mr. Lall how someone like him, with no known academic qualifications and skills was able to accumulate wealth to such magnitude.
There are many in Opposition who, according to the Kaieteur News’ description, have “mansions” and pool-houses too. Is Mr. Lall going to “invade” and bring them into focus?
Don’t be optimistic, for according to Mr. Lall, government officials cannot acquire assets without being stigmatised despite the many years the country has experienced economic prosperity under the PPP/C Administration.
The subsequent transformation and acquisition of personal wealth by Guyanese are indeed overwhelming. For Mr. Lall, only he and his cohorts in the Opposition can freely build their mansions without being subjected to an unprofessional, unethical and unwarranted media invasion by the Kaieteur News.
Oh, how the dear old self-interest of a media proprietor and his Opposition cronies works!