Dear Editor,
I AM disappointed with Vishnu Bisram for his approach to the issue of placement of government ads. The “Dr” blamed the prime minister for what clearly was a deliberate act on the part of Stabroek News to stop publishing government ads. Stabroek News was obviously carrying out the opposition’s campaign to treat the government expenditures as illegal during this caretaker period, and it cannot blame the government for its own action of blocking government ads.

There is no evidence that Stabroek News was “penalized.” From the $0 (Zero) ads during the Jagdeo-Ramotar regime, Stabroek News received close to $ 52 million under the APNU+AFC Coalition this year alone, up to last month. From the figures given by the Department of Public Information (DPI), Stabroek News received government ads in the amount of $ 196 million during 2015-2019 under the coalition. This amounts to 26% or more than one-quarter of all ads that are funded by taxpayers.
The three privately owned newspapers and the only state newspaper received a huge $ 232 million in government advertisements. Stabroek News has no valid case for trying to shakedown and blackmail the coalition government in pursuit of its political agenda.
I am of the opinion that Stabroek News wants our government to be sanctioned by international media organisations, but the record shows that Guyana under the coalition enjoys an open and free press, and a system of parliamentary democracy that is peaceful and stable.
Dr Bisram’s allegations are false, but he can be assured that he continues to be free to peddle his false claims and partisan political propaganda (PPP).
Sincerely,
Terrence Jaigobin