WHEN Former President David Granger rose to the presidency in 2015, there was an expectation that there would be more regular press and media engagements compared with his predecessor, former President Donald Ramotar.

It was envisioned that Granger understood the need for good governance, and for his coalition government to be held accountable by the media corps with an air of honesty and accountability.

Granger was very well liked by the press corps. He started out ‘hot and sweaty’ only for his engagement to become fewer and fewer. This went on for months with Granger making the staged statements and issuing press releases through the Department of Public Information.

He would turn up to official state functions and events to cut a ribbon or declare an event open or even commission something. Then came the ‘Public Interest’ show starring Granger with a few of the selected media and journalists. Within a month of the show, it became clear as day that it was coordinated, and planned. The information flowing to the public was less than honest, true and factual. It was an attempt at pageantry as it was selective and sought to usurp both the role of the free press and rewrite the events. It was both reprehensible and a gimmick at best.

Also, the President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), Nazima Ragubir finally got the courage to stand up to her clandestine bosses; after all, there was sufficient cause to be concerned at Granger’s treatment of the media.

Fast forward to both Kaieteur News and Stabroek News turning their attention sharply, switching gear to Granger’s troubling treatment of the media. Crying foul, headlines and editorials screamed loudly in 2018, saying: “President Granger’s two press conferences in three years…” and “Granger says not afraid of media …” in 2020 in the midst of all the unduly protracted electoral turmoil.

The same article in 2020 observed that, “May 17 press conference marked Granger’s first public appearance since March. The Granger presidency has been criticised for his refusal to hold open press conferences and questions sent to his press and publicity team primarily go unanswered. In 2018, for example, only after tremendous media pressure, including formal complaints by the Guyana Press Association, Granger held only his third press conference since coming to power in 2015.

“His first press conference was held five months into his tenure in October 2015 and his second one was over two years later in December of 2017.”

It is in this very context that the current Head of State and President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s record must be examined. One must never forget the past or display a wilful bout of selective amnesia when seeking after facts and mistruths.

Firstly, President Ali has had far more press conferences with the media in Guyana since his assumption of office. Far more press conferences than five to 10 in a two-year period.

The public should know that President Ali does not shy away from answering the tough and difficult questions posed to him on the sidelines of public events and during interviews. Just ask Demerara Waves, Kaieteur News, Stabroek News and other media ‘suspects’ just how brave, bold, candid and precise the President’s answers or engagement is with them in the media.

He is not coy and does not scramble for words or read from staged teleprompters or scripts. After all, President Granger did so all the time.
Secondly, the President has displayed a unique approach to public information. He prefers to go to the people and adopt a grassroots approach.

This explains his many engagements being streamed live and direct for the world to see in real-time as he visits different parts of the country meeting people, solving problems and informing the public about the policies of his government.

Anyone, including the media, could ask him any question and approach him for a comment relating to any issue. So, the president is accessible to the media by getting ahold of him via his office, phone or any appropriate internet software. He is available as far as his schedule and other engagements allow.

This fascination and obsession with the President holding media and press conferences, as engineered by the private media, more particularly, the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News, and a sprinkle of so-called independent media, is not healthy and is disingenuous as there is no law in the Constitution that stipulates such practices.

Furthermore, it is foolish when one considers the wealth of press engagements and conferences that are held by Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo and other ministers of government that deal with every single issue that the media would be interested in discussing with President Ali.

Thirdly, it seems as though these media entities want special treatment when it comes to the President and his government. They want the formal sit-down and chat with him in the offices with air-conditioning away from the watchful eyes of the public so they can generate their stories after, mislead the public and sow seeds of confusion and doubt.

This President is way too smart and in control of setting his own public narrative. From his actions, he prefers to engage the media publicly. Any responsible and objective media house would see how his policy has changed and differed from time to time, depending on the circumstances.

The media will never successfully pressure the President into holding a press conference like Granger if he does not see the need to!

Turn up where he is and ask him the difficult questions, and work diligently for the news! Nothing is ever easy in the ever-evolving and ever-changing fast-paced world of the internet and telecommunication era.