The opposition media’s hypocritical stance
JUST TO repeat, it has been established that some media entities across the world are not reluctant to have open allegiances with political parties of their choice.
This practice is not unheard of in a democratic society, and, generally, media houses involved do not deny such association.
However, what makes it shameless is when media entities blatantly refute such obvious allegiances. This shamelessness is further exacerbated when the media entities involved become advocates for political parties.
In Guyana, it is common knowledge that the Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Prime News and Capitol News have become potent advocates for the Opposition; the same for the website, Demerara Waves. Together, these anti-government entities openly articulate the Opposition’s position. The allegiances have seemingly moved beyond being mere advocates to policy framers. Despite this, these five entities have the temerity to shamelessly deny their vulgar association with PNC/APNU and the AFC.
Their actions over the last week have further confirmed this. Take for example the PPP/C rally in Linden last Sunday. That area has always been considered a stronghold for the PNC, which has now been morphed as APNU. The PNC won Region 10 in 2006, and still controls the municipality there.
Over the years, the PPP/C has made great inroads, and has increased its support base in that region. Prior to the rally in question, the PPP/C made it known that the Party’s Prime Ministerial candidate for the upcoming election will be announced.
From a media standpoint, that in itself is reason enough for full coverage, especially since the said Opposition media entities have been speculating on who would be eventually named.
The fact that the PPP/C attracted over 10,000 people in what is considered PNC territory was yet another reason for maximum coverage. The massive turnout showed the continuous shift of support towards the PPP/C over the years in Region 10. From a professional and non-partisan perspective, one would expect the political analysts within the Opposition media to publish related, analysed reports.
Any such unbiased reportage would clearly show that the PPP/C has made significant strides in Region 10, especially Linden, in all aspects of development. Physical infrastructure has been restored and new ones built, as in the case of the education and health sectors; housing schemes have flourished; new roads have been built and others resurfaced; bauxite is booming; jobs have been created and various financial initiatives implemented to encourage entrepreneurship. These are just a few of the things the PPP/C has achieved in that area.
The huge crowd at the PPP/C rally was therefore not a coincidence. Likewise, the embarrassingly low turnout at APNU’s rally in the same area is also not a coincidence. The Opposition media failed to capture this. Failure may be an understatement. A more appropriate description would be a deliberate attempt to conceal the truth. If it’s not, then how can the Stabroek News explain carrying three photographs of an AFC event (not a rally or public meeting) the next day as against one for the PPP/C’s rally in Linden? The AFC supplied the photographs that the Stabroek News published.
How does Prime News explain having five stories of APNU’s rally in Linden, with inserts of those who spoke as against one for the PPP/C? How does Prime News explain that the one story it carried relating to the PPP/C rally in Linden was devoid of any insert or mention of Mr. Donald Ramotar, the Party’s Presidential Candidate?
Demerara Waves has been giving regular updates on PPP/C rallies and public meetings. The updates predominantly appraise attendance. They questioned the massive turnouts in Albion and Kitty as to whether it was 15,000 or 20,000.
How then can Demerara Waves explain not giving any updates with regard to the poor attendance at APNU’s rally in Linden? How can Demerara Waves explain giving updates with regard to what hecklers say at a PPP/C public meeting in Georgetown as against little or no attendance at APNU and AFC meetings? Demerara Waves confirmed that hecklers were trying to disrupt PPP/C meetings. Why didn’t they report on the disruption as against giving commentary on what was said? These are just a few examples of the unprofessional journalism practised by the Opposition media.
It is pellucid that these media entities are synonymous in their efforts to force the Opposition’s agenda on Guyanese. The Stabroek News has now become the organ of the AFC. All their columnists are anti-government. If they are professional as they claim, then why not entertain a pro-government column? Has the Stabroek News reached out in an effort to include a pro-government space as they did to anti-government columnists? Given their adopted position, the Stabroek News would not entertain any view that counters the AFC and APNU.
It is believed that the Stabroek News was the catalyst in the formation of the AFC. Most, if not all, of their columnists are activists of the AFC. How can this newspaper therefore deny that they support the Opposition, AFC, and still hypocritically try to convey the impression that they practise professional and ethical journalism? The same obtains for the Kaieteur News, Prime News, Capitol News and Demerara Waves. Guyanese would not be fooled by these entities. Their open advocacy is irrefutable evidence that these sections of the media are merged with the Opposition for the election while trying to be disguised in alliance.