Merged for Elections, Disguised In Alliance
There seem to be no end to the escapades of misinformation and sensationalism some local media houses would engage in just to satisfy the appetites of their political masters in the APNU/PNC/AFC collaboration.

Despite rhetoric to the contrary, each of these three organisations is a representation of the other. Coverage by Opposition media entities vindicates this classification since they do not differentiate amongst the three when references are made in their attempts to defile the Administration.

Given their verbiage over the years, it is no longer a coincidence that, from a media perspective, these Opposition mouthpieces defend and expound on what their political hierarchy regurgitates. It is a seamless coordinated effort to bring the Administration into disrepute.

All three are treated as one. By now, Guyanese are not oblivious to this grouping’s extension to include the Kaieteur News, the Stabroek News, Prime News, Capitol News and their cronies within the biased and treacherous “brotherhood” of the Opposition media.

Given their verbiage over the years, it is no longer a coincidence that, from a media perspective, these Opposition mouthpieces defend and expound on what their political hierarchy regurgitates. It is a seamless, coordinated effort to bring the Administration into disrepute.

Despite the enormity of their lies and misinformation, they have failed miserably in their attempts to sway opinions of the now free and enlightened populace. Their attempts have been repelled by the overwhelming evidence of democracy, freedom, transparency, development, stability, economic prosperity, international respect and social cohesion, to list a few. These attributes of this now free and prosperous nation serve as impenetrable walls against the routine, misleading tirades of the Kaieteur News and the rest of the unpatriotic band.

Despite the enormity of their lies and misinformation, they have failed miserably in their attempts to sway opinions of the now free and enlightened populace. Their attempts have been repelled by the overwhelming evidence of democracy, freedom, transparency, development, stability, economic prosperity, international respect and social cohesion, to list a few.

The recent opening of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) office in Berbice is just another example of the innumerable developments that have inundated this country’s landscape following the 1992 historic elections. Much has been said with regard to the quantum of development in previous articles.

The opening of the NIS Berbice office must not only be seen as another building, but as a commitment by the administration to decentralise basic services to all across the country.

This is an automatic aspect of development. No longer do Guyanese have to travel long distances to reach the capital to access services in many areas. Services provided by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Passport Office, Health and the Ministry of Human Services’ Old-age Pension are just a few that are available countrywide. This has vastly reduced time and expenses. When the University of Guyana Berbice Campus and the various Technical Institutes are added, it exemplifies the commitment of this government to enhance all aspects of life for the Guyanese populace.

The Opposition media deliberately avoid the mention and publication of these overwhelming aspects of development. Given their entrenched position to support and defend the Opposition, they will be utterly embarrassed to publish material relevant to development. If they did, it will contradict their slavish dedication to the Opposition. This has led to them becoming obsessed with sensationally propagandising inaccuracies and misinformation. With regard to the NIS office in Berbice, the said pictures published by the Kaieteur News are contradictory.

A picture of a finished NIS building was shown as opposed to unfinished ones of the houses. From the picture published, the NIS building was painted, fenced – including barbed-wire, grilled, guttered, and fully air-conditioned with multiple units.

An actual inspection showed that the yard is concreted and the building fully equipped with all amenities for the functions it will provide. This is a woefully far cry from the other buildings captured on the front page of the Kaieteur News. Anyone looking at the pictures will see that the NIS building is larger than any of the houses shown. Yet the paper has shamelessly noted that the NIS building is smaller!

All the houses shown lacked fences, paint, air-conditioning, concreted yards with drains and were smaller. The Kaieteur News claims that the houses cost five and six million respectively, clearly a sum for an unfinished building. How can that newspaper compare the NIS building to those houses?  If it is that those house owners have already spent that sum, then, all who would have built their own, would know that to finish each of the houses, many millions more would have to be found. This would just be for domestic purposes.

If the houses were to attain the status of the NIS building, then it could never be a stretch of the imagination for the cost to reach $69M. Maybe this column should challenge the publisher of the Kaieteur News to furnish information on the cost of the paper’s new office and other entities, including a prominent store.

Surely, this would be revealing to the public which has been fed lies and misinformation about the cost of construction undertaken by government. Being bent on smearing the Administration, one would not expect the Opposition media to relent in their efforts.

As long as they are merged for the election under the disguise of an alliance, Guyanese would continue to be bombarded and be distracted with non-issues peddled unabated by the likes of the Kaieteur News. Guyanese should not be deterred; the walls of development will stand up to their unfounded advances.