PERMIT me to respond to Harry Gill’s response “In defence of Kaieteur News” dated November 9, 2010. Though his letter ought not to be dignified with a response, I think Gill needs to be put in his place. Let’s commence with the notion of yellow journalism, which in short, is biased opinion masquerading as facts. Moreover, the practice of yellow journalism involves sensationalism, distorted stories, and misleading images for the sole purpose of boosting newspaper sales and manipulating public opinion. Mr. Gill you should know by now that “sleaze” sells and this accounts for your claim that Kaieteur News is largest selling newspaper in Guyana.
It says a lot about its integrity when a newspaper allows its reporters to impersonate representatives of a state media entity in order to garner information related to a story. Where was Gill when the concepts of free speech and freedom of the press were non-existent in the Guyanese vernacular? Today Gill and his masquerading bunch attempt to portray this government as one which suppresses these freedoms. A freedom they very much abuse.
He refers to the torture of the child at the hands of the Police, but failed to mention that efforts which saw the alleged perpetrators being brought before the courts are rendered useless by the continued absence of the virtual complainant from court hearings.
His questions regarding Roger Khan and the Phantom squad are of no consequence since Khan was convicted and jailed on the basis of testimony provided by an individual bought and sold by the US government. Both of them are acknowledged criminals but one is free while the other is in jail. One lives a life of opulence with his family, having received their US green cards while the other convicted of similar acts is in jail.