THE media plays an important and vital role in any democratic and civilised society in the modern-day world.

Also, the media serves as the gatekeeper for the public’s interest in the general society, constantly watching out for excesses, policies, plans and actions of the State apparatus which include the Government and the Opposition of the day.

It is supposed to be the bastion of truth, always reporting and telling stories, or communicating in a manner that is factual, truthful, balanced, fair and accurate. It is also supposed to be free and fair in its discharge of the considerable responsibilities and duties as outlined in the profession.

The media, whether it is traditional or modern, has its own influence in countries around the globe, telling people what to think about, how to think about issues, who to think about, in what way to think about it, and when to think about a particular issue or person.

Simply put, it is supposed to be apolitical, non-partisan and neutral. It stands that as a national stakeholder and the public’s watchdog. It must at all times be respected and appreciated.
This does not mean that the media or press cannot be criticised or upbraided by any stakeholder in society domestically, regionally, and internationally if it falls short of its responsibility as outlined in various charters, declarations and laws. This, will, in turn, keep the media in check whenever it jumps out of line or acts outside of its well-defined parameter.

Since 1945, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) has been the body in this country that serves to self-regulate members of the media while shielding media here from the actions of powerful politicians, political parties, interest groups or individuals, and civil society organisations which threaten or intimidate the media corps, and media workers.

The GPA always stood by the primary journalist and media worker once they are in the right, and are plying their trade in an acceptable manner.

Throughout the years, several prominent journalists and media workers have served as President or in some post on the GPA Executive. They have cemented their time at the helm of the organisation, enduring the problems, challenges and issues that come with the turf.

Many have excelled and many tried while others have failed miserably at the main job of the GPA, which has been to represent the media and media workers in Guyana and remain apolitical in driving the GPA’s agenda whatever that it may be at the time.

One of the many post-independence Presidents has been Nazima Ragubhir who has done a satisfactory job at the helm of the GPA. Ragubhir’s tenure could be described as homily, plain and uninspiring to say the least.

There was nothing hallmark, futuristic, or even defining about the years that she led the struggle for representation of media protection and rights. No headquarters of the GPA was established and no constitutional reform was embarked upon with a view to bringing the institution closer to the brink of a modern journalist lobby group that is compliant with best practices regionally and internationally.

Nonetheless, she has been delivering the speeches required, attending the functions, conducting and facilitating the training sessions for the stakeholders including the GPA, and generally handling the tasks.

Sadly, the current form of the make-up of the GPA Executives, their open skewed agendas and biased approach to the government of the day, and the impending GPA elections process threaten to undermine it as a credible arbiter and important interlocker in the biased and angry civil society environment.

Also, GPA President Ragubhir seems to have developed an affinity for not remaining neutral and apolitical in the discharge of the other GPA functions while she is seeking to provide leadership, protectionism, and representation to the media here.

She is very quick to issue statements hammering away at the government of the day for alleged press attacks on the media, and other things while playing mute and downplaying the very concerns of another group of media workers here that she assumes do not share her political and other inclinations.

Ragubhir, conveniently, does not issue a single statement or deal with their concerns. For example, she would run to the rescue of Davina Baggot and Kaieteur News but would not have addressed the alleged horrific conditions pertaining to the verbal, and mental abuse that ex-employees and current media workers claim they endure at the hands of former Chief Editor Adam Harris, and the publisher Glenn Lall. Why is that so? Is it that the Lall and Harris’ political views are anti-PPP and mirrors the clandestine or now open emboldened views of Ragubhir and the Executive?

And, there are many in State Media and private media who have had issues from 2018 to May 2023 that she has turned a blind eye towards addressing, purportedly because they did not seem to be against the PPP/C Government, or key politicians whom she uses as click-bate for likes and shares.

This is a concern as the current Executive is being accused of using and hiding behind the veil of the GPA, and the secrecy to orchestrate attacks of journalists, media and press workers they see as a threat, and the government of the day.

That aside, there are much bigger concerns the local media has been sounding the alarm about in the GPA for years. For example, the GPA financials and the alleged non-audit of spending of donor funds under the guise of travel, training and other expenditure.

Then, there are the decisions of the half-manned body which is crippled by resignations and underwhelming performance. Since when does the media and press activism starts when one term ends and when one knows one will have to go?

Another concern, which is last but not least, is the controversial elections in which Ragbuhir is a candidate. Yet, the current president is keeping a low profile and trying to dodge the media workers who want answers.

How is this fair and transparent? What is there to hide? What is the motive behind running for a fourth term after dubiously and wickedly extending an elected term way past three and a half terms?

This looks very unconstitutional and appears to be giving ‘power hungry or creeping dictatorship’ vibes in order for Ragubhir and current council to continue to control the narrative about the press freedom and access to information in Guyana well into the periods of the local, regional and national elections slated in June and late 2025.

As a result, there is an ongoing fight by lone contenders Neil Marks, and other outspoken GPA members for the body to respect and function according to its own Constitution. She and the infamous three other complicit journalists have been taken to court by Social Media activist Makhail Rodrigues (Critic) to get the voter’s list released now, and the removal of the secrecy that is hanging over the elections that are slated for Sunday.

Ragubhir should be ashamed of her record in an office when one considers this because it seems as though she is seeking to foist or force herself illegally on journalists here. Those defending her are guilty of undermining the GPA and abusing the organisation and its intended impartial focus. This is in and of itself a danger to press freedom, accountability and transparency in Guyana.

As a matter of fact, the current GPA is not sticking to the tenets that the organisation is supposed to stand by. The current council is not shy about standing on the side of the opposition and direct conflict and confrontation with the Government of the day that has deciphered their postures.

The truth is, the elections today will be marred in controversy, rigging and election skullduggery if the media and media workers are not vigilant or successful to postpone it. The challengers are going to be defeated and in doing so, Guyanese journalists will be fighting for the soul of the GPA.

If GPA is to survive this hijacking of the organisation by ‘journalists and media workers’ from within who are clearly not apolitical, non-partisan, independent and unbiased, then each media worker must play their part in the struggle to get GPA to act in an accountable, transparent, fair and legal manner.

They must vote against the wrong doers and support the path to transparency in management and finances. GPA members should fight for the retention of its right to be an independent and apolitical entity. Journalists and media workers must fight legally against being controlled, brainwashed politically and otherwise by this Executive, and for their freedom.
The future of the fourth estate now rests with the way the journalists and media workers vote, if at all, Sunday.