THE combined opposition in Guyana cannot seem to wrap their little heads around what Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo was saying at his end-of-year press conference Thursday last. Even more so, if one looks at the rubbish that APNU+AFC MP, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde wrote in the media, one will lose respect for lawyers of his ilk and standing in the profession. One will even begin to realise the reason behind him losing case after case which should be easy to win when one is certain that the law, facts and truth are on one’s side.

But it is not so for the opposition and Forde who dishonorably continue to spread their alternative facts and propaganda, riding on a high created by the Kaieteur News, Gordon Moseley, Travis Chase, and a plethora of social media ‘influencers’ who are disingenuously spreading the false narrative that the government has the intention of coming after the social media critics.

This is not what Dr Jagdeo said or implied during the press conference. They, especially, the journalists, should know that spreading this narrative is wicked, nasty and reeks of desperation as it is no doubt going to backfire if the government ever changes foot in this country.
Firstly, Jagdeo was speaking at a Peoples Progressive Party media conference as its general secretary. At no time, did he ever say that the government was considering “going after” any political critics. In fact, he was giving his own take on the summons that Rickord Burke was served.

The media knows this. The viewing public know this is so true but some wicked and sensational opposition media provocateurs wanted to play the victim. They wanted to enmesh Dr Jagdeo into another supposed media battle and paint a picture that ‘big bad Jagdeo’ is coming for them.

This is quite foolish and it must be condemned because the PPP, which Dr Jagdeo represents, has made it clear that it believes in a free media, free speech and freedom of all media workers in Guyana. In fact, the party has a track record of protecting “the pen” and the voice of journalists, public commentators and all Guyanese in this country who speak out against injustices, miscarriage of justice and for truth. Just, look at the periods of 2015 to 2020, 1964 to 1992, and 1994 to 2000 for examples.

Secondly, what was said by Jagdeo is that he is particularly in favour of responsible journalism and free speech that is based on the facts, truth and wholesome information. He did take a swipe at the social media commentators and influencers like Rickford Burke and others who use their platforms to sow seeds of discord, divide our country, spread alternative facts and tell outright lies that harm families, individuals and businesses unduly and unjustly.

Free speech can never mean harming or defaming people for likes and views. It must not be seditious or border on criminality like hate speech, harassment, illegalities or pose a true threat. No. This is not what is meant by freedom of speech either in Guyana or further afield. One cannot criticise a government policy or private individual and use alternative facts or lies for clicks and views and expect that they will get away with it. The law is not an ass but is blind when it comes to protecting the wronged and innocently accused.

So, it is this point that caused Dr Jagdeo to express satisfaction that citizens will now have the power to come after those that sit in houses and basements behind the safety nets of computers and location, that spreads the lies, misinformation and spurious information about people and businesses.

It is a good thing arguably that some attempt is being made through the law to reign in the media, particularly some of the social media influencers who have become like a runaway train, and ‘gods’ according to themselves. If this does not offer the control or oversight, then we will be doomed in 2024 because the world is going digital, telecommunication, internet, and the World Wide Web is taking over how we see things, how we feel about things and what we do.

Thirdly, any fool would analyse the points made by the opposition and dismiss it if they know the facts and the truth of the matter. Likewise, the garbage that was put forward by the opposition MP Forde that saw him trying to ‘kerfuffle’ the public with his sesquipedalian and supreme vocabulary is just a divisionary tactic used in law school when the student failed to comprehend the subject matter. He said nothing that made sense, or could be worthy of a serious debate, and was just clutching at straws.

Basically, 758 words and nothing made sense to the reader. Now, that is what is ‘unsettling’ about an opposition MP. The people have real business and matters to attend to in Congress Place and in Guyana than the conduct of one man that they are counting on this politician to represent.

Finally, if one preaches hate and racism on social media whether in Guyana, Florida or Queens in the US, Canada or Africa, they should face the long arm of the law. One cannot hold media people to one standard and hold another group to a next standard. Fair is fair.
If one does not have a fact, credible information or the truth, one should not talk as though one does. In fact, one should shut up or wait until one knows for sure. Who vex, lose!
A happy New Year to you, may your New Year be a pleasant and goal-accomplishing one.