Dear Mr Ambassador,

Come take a walk with me; a walk back to reality; a walk in modern Guyana, and not in the 1980s, because your accusation of censorship levied against the Government would have been true if we were actually in the 80s; but by God’s grace, we, as a nation, have evolved from such a horrific era, whereby we were living under a government that was dictatorial and brutal towards the people of Guyana.My first concern is how someone like you, who have tremendous resources and are supported by some of the world’s most reliable intelligence, could allow yourself to make these spurious accusations without substantial evidence to back up your claims.

How can you be so baffled by this kind of impression that you’re trying to create of press freedom not blossoming in Guyana? On what grounds are these impressions being supported?

I’ll take this time also to remind you that Guyana, before 1992, was a monopolistic nation under the PNC, where press freedom was concerned. Weren’t you interested then? Where was your voice in that harsh and deadly time when people were not only afraid to voice their opinions, but, most importantly, those who did, were punished, jailed, or even killed?

The Walter Rodney assassination is a perfect example of this. I could also go more in-depth and mention the slaying of Father Bernard Darke, who was another victim of the unprincipled killings that took place back then. He was killed because he was documenting the wrongdoings of the PNC which was the ruling party at the time.

How would you describe that era, if you were to compare press freedom then to now?

I’ve done much research, and I can assure you that back in those dark and dismal days of the PNC, only the state papers and the state radio had access to everything, while opposition papers were consistently denied the right to import newsprint. There was absolutely no freedom at all; there was no freedom to speak, no freedom to travel, and no freedom to earn a living under the PNC back then, and we all can testify that they are trying to relive those dreadful days at present.

An example in point is the opposition’s most recent voting down of key projects in budget 2014; this would put a lot of hard working Guyanese out of a job.
Freedoms were basically missing, it’s a fact and it’s also a dark part of our nation’s history; but after 1992, from having only three television stations here in Guyana while the PNC was the ruling party, we now have close to 21 free and functioning television stations; from having just one daily newspaper, we’ve now been blessed with four free and functioning daily newspapers, and over 10 free and functioning radio stations, which have collectively been providing consistent press coverage to the Guyanese people without any fear over the years.

So I’ll ask you again, Mr. Ambassador: On what grounds did you premise your statements that there’s no press freedom in Guyana?

Moreso, I’ll take not only you, Mr. Ambassador, but also any of the private media on a challenge to say which private media has been censored by the PPP government to the point where they were told not to carry any anti-Government article, or were denied newsprint or access to travel within and even out of Guyana to cover stories.

And while we’re at that, I’ll also ask of the private media to present any form of evidence that could show that they had been subjected to any form of censorship under the PPP government.

Ever since 1992, Guyana has been a “Whole New World” where press freedom is concerned; it’s no longer monopolistic, it’s no longer dictatorial, it’s no longer detrimental and neither subjective!

LANCELOT ADAMS