The Guyana Press Association recognizes that Guyana is no different from the rest of the world in its quest for the need for information and for the free flow of information. In this country, there are still challenges to the free and unfettered distribution of information by governmental policy that has prohibited the operation of any other radio station other than those owned and controlled by the government. The reluctance to open the airwaves over the years has resulted in the stifling of creative talent and hampered, if not retarded, the free and unfettered access to information.
The Guyana Press Association urges the Government of Guyana to break the monopoly that the Government enjoys over the electromagnetic spectrum, particularly with regard to the granting of radio station licences and to allow for the expansion of other television stations. We believe that a National Broadcasting Authority must be established as soon as possible to ensure that Information can be disseminated by a variety of sources throughout the country. We endorse the position that universal access to information must be pursued, especially in rural, remote and insular areas.
It is interesting that in this age of social media- texting and tweeting, that Guyana is still holding out that its radio frequencies cannot be allocated to anyone else other than those who control the corridors of power.
Guyana also needs to examine whether economic leverage, particularly in the withdrawal or placement of advertising, must be used to enforce editorial positions on media houses.
The Guyana Press Association is comfortable that most journalists operating within Guyana have been able to conduct themselves with dignity and in an environment that is for the most part safe. Citizens must not be deprived of their right to be able to understand their society, for which an independent press–including both state-run and privately-owned media—remain crucial.
We encourage journalists to continue to pursue the news without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and to ensure that they are sufficiently well-informed about a subject before attempting to inform the public in a fair, balanced, accurate and truthful manner.