FOR SOCIETY to function with smooth and efficient operation, the state must first and foremost ensure that nothing impedes the public good, that every sector of the country respects public order, exercises mature responsibility in living out democratic freedoms, and shows sincere consideration for the public welfare of Guyanese. Glancing back in hindsight, the nation saw what damage a runaway, irresponsible media culture and wayward social media posts could cause the country. For five years, Guyana suffered heavy socioeconomic slowdown under the Coalition regime, because social media and a wide swath of local mainstream media reports convinced even the local diplomatic corps, but also scores of citizens and professionals, that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government was practising bad governance. But after witnessing five years of the Coalition in office, Guyanese now see the truth, and thankfully, the local media, and even social media, could move on, with the current PPP/C Government’s goodwill at a record high.

However, pockets of discontent remain in the society, dripping irrational cynicism like nagging drops of rhetoric wearing away slowly at the solid foundation of Guyana’s upward trajectory. One could brush off cynicism from citizens who gossip and talk in the street, but when national media outlets that purport to operate professional communication vehicles resort to constant negativity and emotive rhetoric to influence the public square to impact citizen morale, and to assuage the nation with uninspiring verbiage, it is incumbent upon the state to exercise its good-governance duty to ensure freedom in the public square is exercised with professional responsibility, ethical leadership, and deep consideration for the public welfare of Guyanese.
The society, in other words, cannot allow, in the name of wanton, unfettered freedom, voices to become entrenched on the national scene that disrupt progress, rather than seek to objectively work for the public good.

This concept of the public good is the single most important tenet of the good-governance principle. Some folks seem to feel that good governance refers only to how the state conducts the nation’s business, but the concept more importantly encapsulates the state guarding and ensuring that the foundation of the society is not disrupted and eroded, through making sure that the public good, public order, and public life function well. In fostering a social environment of freedom and liberty, full democratic norms, and faith in the ability of citizens to voice and express their opinions, however radical or different or unpopular a citizen’s view might be, the state must nevertheless exercise its duty to make sure that freedom does not descend into anarchy, that nobody, for example, could run through the streets screaming violence and mayhem, that people express themselves within the realms of responsible self-leadership, professional conduct, and ethical consideration for the public good. This is an urgent necessity for the Guyanese society to grow and thrive in peace and to progress with ease.

In other words, although a democratic society confers much power upon the individual to play a dynamic role in the public space, and to engage with fellow citizens fully respecting the rights of the individual, it is the state’s job to implement checks and balances to ensure no irresponsible person – especially of economic means — abuses, misuses, or misunderstands this power.
At the recent media luncheon hosted at State House, President Ali expressed government’s gratitude and love for the free media culture that Guyana embraces, noting the role of the media in ensuring democracy prevailed against the Coalition’s attempt to derail the process of free and fair elections. Indeed, the media’s role in the country is absolutely vital, and that role entails not only the idea of freedom, but freedom’s twin – responsibility. Guyana operates a democratic body politic, comprising the independent judiciary, the legislative and executive branches of government and municipal and regional administrations, and the free media landscape, all working together with one goal in mind– the public good of Guyana. And part of the state’s mandate is to guard the public square, guide the national conversation, so that factual information, respect and professional ethics prevail, that responsible leaders take to the stage, rather than any person who feels they could shout hard and long whatever they feel, in a bid to influence public opinion. This might sound like a small thing, but it impacts the foundation of the society, and could cause untold and unnecessary and irreversible disruption of public order, with warped views paraded day in and day out as facts.

The Guyanese nation could only achieve its magnificent potential if the state makes sure that democratic norms function with reasonably good sense, rational, constructive debates, and responsible objectivity. In President Ali’s address to media operatives at State House, the Head of State showed government’s love for reporters, and assured the audience that the state is fully open for them to ask questions and cover stories, and even to travel with state officials to cover projects around the country. This is commendable. The media’s role is without doubt a great structure in Guyana, providing a feedback loop to officials, so that decisions are always made with citizens in mind. However, the media must exercise this great privilege with responsible ethics and professional respect for the full tenets of what freedom entails.

Given the decades of Guyana’s history whereby there was suppression of the media under the People’s National Congress (PNC) regime, one could understand sensitivity around any idea of causing the media environment to be subjected in any way. Yet, respect for operating in the public square must be the guiding principle of every national media house, with comprehensive training, professional ethics, and responsible leadership self-regulating the public’s voice. And even with self-regulation of the media fraternity through the Guyana Press Association and other relevant oversight bodies, it is the duty of the state to prevent freedom from descending into verbal anarchy and disruption of society’s smooth operation.