-Gov’t commits to exposing intellectual authors
THE most recent character attack levelled against Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, in the Kaieteur News, is being viewed as an “insidious” plot by “intellectual architects “ rather than the work of run-of-the mill reporters. Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, made this observation yesterday, during his post-cabinet press briefing, at the Office of the President, when he condemned the attack in the Kaieteur News against Minister Ali, captioned ‘After two years as Minister… Irfaan Ali builds mansion with poolhouse’, on January 1, 2012.
“The Administration and Cabinet will vehemently reject such abuses, not only by correcting misinformation and disinformation, but also in going to great lengths to expose the intellectual authors, those responsible for designing these outrages. The inescapable reality about the media in Guyana today needs no better demonstration than Kaieteur News recent headlines and its attack on the young Minister Irfaan Ali,” he said.
According to Dr. Luncheon, “reason and professionalism” was clearly lacking, when the attack was conceived and put into operation. He noted too the refusal on the part of Kaieteur News “to exercise even a modicum of moderation about what is being published.”
He explained, “I do not believe, or accept that Kaieteur News went the acceptable distance in getting to the meat of the matter… I am pretty certain that they knew and can access information about the procurement, purchase and the sale of that home, I am pretty certain about that. At the end of the day, the descent into such mud-raking and yellow journalism must be checked and we all have a role to play, we all have to be a part of that process.”
The Cabinet Secretary noted with disdain the impunity with which such reports are accepted by society, which, according to him, has become accustomed to such things, and the inability of the regulatory bodies to also react to such happenings.
As to the implications of this, Dr. Luncheon said, “The regulatory bodies, as I have pointed out, have been emasculated by political intrigue … the Code of Conduct lost its effectiveness.”
The HPS reiterated that the attacks by Kaieteur News were simply not fair and reeked of a more insidious, comprehensive plot, which, from all indications, is not constrained to the print media alone.
He said, “I will say this, I am willing to let time be the judge of Kaieteur News’ intrigue and its intention. I am utterly convinced that this is a matter of great creativity, it’s not ordinary minds that conspire to produce work of this sort; I am prepared to let time be the judge… I am willing to allow Kaieteur News to vindicate itself, but I suspect that would not happen.”
The basis of the Kaieteur News report brought into question the construction of Minister Ali’s home, dubbed a “mansion”, at Leonora, on the West Coast of Demerara.