THE media shape our world—but so do women, as powerful agents of change in all areas of society and it is time for media to reflect this reality. The Guyana Press Association(GPA) is the oldest representative organisation of media workers in Guyana and the Caribbean. The GPA which was founded in 1945 saw the historic election on Sunday of the first woman, Nazima Raghubir, elected as President of the GPA.

A free press is indispensable for the growth, development and good of democracy; for, it is the bulwark against tyranny, and political corruption. It is about allowing for proper, reasoned, and open debates on issues that should be relevant to the extant political-social-economic conditions of the particular society, drawing on historical experiences, both local and abroad.

These debates must be objective, and carried out in a manner that encompasses views/opinions of all strata, irrespective of class/social standing, given in a panoramic view and not in a blinkered, self-serving manner, or designed to create mischief that will undermine the public peace. They must elucidate scholarship for enlightenment and guidance.

There can be no denying that the media in this, the historical era of the first national coalition government, the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change(APNU+AFC), is functioning in a truly democratic environment. And here are some signposts: Friends of the coalition, particularly, have been critical of the government. Even the political opposition party; has had its pieces and points of view published in the State media. Memory will remind us that this, a right, had been deliberately denied the then opposition parties by the former PPP/C administration, prior to May, 2015.

What is very commendable is that despite these criticisms, even in the State-owned print–no one is being cussed down, vilified, or targeted personally. Also, no one is padded on to state payroll to be phantom writers, to attack anyone with whom the government disagrees. At least, not in the state media.

Functioning in our unique Guyanese society has its characteristically well-known dangers, and pitfalls for any press, because of the ethnic lens through which every aspect of our political-social-economic challenges are seen, understood, and discussed. No press, operating in a society divided by race, can claim to be the public’s watch dog, if it is partisan, or held hostage by any political–cultural group that espouses ethnicity and dominance of that society.

Despite the fact of its origination out of such a milieu, and given its very vantage position of being able to influence public opinion it becomes even more crucial that such a press comprehends its role as being facilitator of assisting the process of finding counters to the threats that the poison of racism poses.

In this regard, it must avail its pages to frank and enlightened discussions on the way forward, rather than those bent on perpetuating an ideology that can only lead to greater fissures in our society.
Functioning in an enabling environment affords the media both private and state-owned to lead creatively, public discussions on the seminal issues of the day, rather than operate from an agenda that panders to race and other unreasonable positions.

In fact, it is sacrilegious for any responsible media house to participate in, much less to give credence to obfuscations, lies, and half-truths. These do not bring any moral and spiritual value to a nation’s understanding of itself, and how to confront its challenges. Only further distortions can accrue from such a dishonest platform. It does the country no ounce of good, while building an unfair burden for future generations.

The importance of the media, the fourth estate cannot be overemphasised since democracy requires informed citizens. No governing body can be expected to operate well without knowledge of the issues on which it is to rule, and rule by the people entails that the people should be informed. The local media must understand that its task, among others, is to aid in the healing of the still festering, dangerous, sore of racism, and not lend to its continued fomentation.