PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Thursday lauded Guyana’s upward movement on the World Press Freedom Index.

In a brief comment before entering the National Assembly, he said that it was evident that the press in Guyana is “free, open, plural and kicking”.
Prime Minister also has Cabinet responsibility for public information.

Guyana’s ranking now stands at 55 as compared to 60 last year. The World Press Freedom Index analyses the media environment in 180 countries each year. This administration has moved to expand press freedom in other areas of community broadcasting, notably in the hinterland regions. President David Granger and the ministers of Government have over time reaffirmed the Coalition Government’s commitment to ensuring freedom of the press.
On Wednesday, the Guyana Press Association also hailed the elevation of this country on the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index by 5 places.

“We welcome this improved ranking with some reservations. This may seem somewhat of an achievement, but in reality there are still significant hurdles to be crossed before Guyanese can feel that an improved ranking really matters,” the GPA said.

Meanwhile, according to the report, ranked second (but more than 10 points worse than Europe), the Americas contain a wide range of situations. Violence and impunity continue to feed fear and self-censorship in Central America.

Mexico (147th) became the world’s second deadliest country for journalists in 2017, with 11 killed. Thanks to President Maduro’s increasingly authoritarian excesses, Venezuela (143rd) dropped six places, the region’s biggest fall. On the other hand, Ecuador (92nd) jumped 13 places, the hemisphere’s greatest rise, because tension between the authorities and privately-owned media abated.

In North America, Donald Trump’s USA slipped another two places while Justin Trudeau’s Canada rose four and entered the top 20 at 18th place, a level where the situation is classified as “fairly good”.