KN reporter storms out of press conference, pens erroneous attack

Guyana Times sets the record straight

… reporters have a responsibility to reflect issues in a truthful manner – Jagdeo 

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday rubbished a glaringly inaccurate report in the Kaieteur News, which sought to give the erroneous impression that that publication’s reporters at a press conference he hosted on Thursday were somehow restrained from asking questions.

In the article headlined “Jagdeo bars Kaieteur News from asking questions at press conference,” the reporter sought to convey the impression that she had been somehow restrained when in fact, she opted to storm out of the press conference when not allowed to pose questions at the time she wanted to pose her question. Subsequently, her colleague from the same news entity followed her.
In the article published in the Kaieteur News, it was reported that the first question Jagdeo entertained was posed by a reporter attached to the Guyana Times newspaper. This publication wishes to place on record the fact that its journalist had in fact signalled an intention to ask questions even before the Opposition Leader had finished making his opening remarks.

The Kaieteur News report suggested that Jagdeo entertained two questions from that reporter. What in fact did transpire is that the Guyana Times reporter sought clarification on a matter raised by the former President in his opening statements – a question that sought clarification on two fronts.
The Kaieteur News article then went on to say that the moderator, Zulfikar Mustapha, then asked if any other reporter wished to pose further questions and that the two reporters representing Kaieteur News at the press conference simultaneously indicated, by raised hands, that they wished to question the Opposition Leader.
What the Kaieteur News report did not detail is the fact that when the reporter from that publication was given her chance, the reporter posed five separate initial questions to the Opposition Leader and was also afforded follow-up clarifications.
A reporter from HGP Nightly News was also afforded an opportunity at this point in time to get in a quick clarification.
Kaieteur News conveniently left out these details from its report but went on to say that when their representative attempted to pose questions to Jagdeo, he responded by saying, “No, no, no, you cannot ask any questions. Your colleague already asked questions.”
What in fact transpired is when the second reporter from Kaieteur News attempted to pose a question, she was informed that a representative from the newspaper had already posed a number of questions and as such, she should allow other media houses present to be given an opportunity to have their questions fielded also.
The moderator at the time identified a reporter from Stabroek News followed by a representative from an online media house at which point in time, the Kaieteur News reporter quipped “discrimination.”
The former President responded to the ‘discrimination’ quip by pointing out that Kaieteur News had already had a chance to pose five questions and opted instead to field a question from Stabroek News saying “no, no, no, let me go with (SN reporters).”
That reporter was allowed to pose questions to clarify something the Opposition Leader had said.
By the time the former President had finished addressing the Stabroek News reporter, the Guyana Times reporter attempted to solicit a clarification but was quickly objected to by the Kaieteur News reporter who was immediately told by the Guyana Times reporter, “go ahead (Name), go ahead (Name).” The former Head of State intervened, however, and reminded that the reporter from the online media house was identified for the next substantive question but this person declined at this point since the question was already answered.
The upset Kaieteur News reporter – who coincidentally waltzed into the press conference several minutes late – opted to instead storm out of the press conference to no doubt write an emotionally charged and wholly inaccurate report. The Opposition Leader has since called the report by that publication as “reflective of uninspired hyperbole, as is characteristic of the Kaieteur News.”
Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader by way of a public missive on Friday also lambasted a second article in the Kaieteur News’ Friday, October 21, 2016, edition, where that newspaper contends that in addressing Guyana’s current economic challenges, no solutions were offered by the Opposition Leader. According to Jagdeo, “Again, the newspaper ignored facts… I defined elements of a matrix that could address the current slowdown in the economy.”
He recalled too that “Of note is that I gave this explanation after a question was posed by the Kaieteur News… I explained that the matrix would feature three primary factors – consistent policies and incentives; uniformed applicability of policies; and a focus by the Minister of Finance on growth rather than managing for ratios. I also pointed out that to define this matrix further would take up a great deal of time which I was prepared to do, but not at a press conference.”
The former President has since remarked that “Of note too is that the misrepresentations published by the Kaieteur news followed my explanation for the consistent personal attacks, as well as attacks on the political Opposition.”
According to Jagdeo, “The role of the media has been accepted as a critical one in a democracy. However, reporters also have a responsibility to reflect issues in a truthful manner.”