THE Independent Media Workers Association of Guyana (IMAG) issued a statement on Wednesday expressing its deep concern over the resignation of the Guyana Times/Television Guyana News Anchor Leana Bradshaw and her colleagues Whitney Persaud and Sabatini Daniels.IMAG said it understands that Bradshaw resigned “as a result of fear for her life” after being asked to present a news item concerning the owner and publisher of the Kaieteur Newspaper Glenn Lall.
IMAG believes that the “expression of fear in the execution of professional journalistic duties is a troubling development in the Guyana Media Landscape which is deserving of much attention and discussion”.
IMAG also stated that it is in solidarity with the reporters who resigned as it considers the safety and wellbeing of journalists to be a most sacrosanct cornerstone of the profession.
“We also stand in defence of the media’s right to report fearlessly on any public official or issue where the news is in the public’s interest. In particular, the Guyana Times efforts to pursue issues it considers to be in the public’s interest should also be safeguarded within the confines of freedom of the press,” the association contended.
IMAG said it has contacted Ms Bradshaw and her colleagues to discuss their concerns.