Media forced to work under tent without furniture, access to washroom
National elections recount
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) continued its disrespect for the work of the media through its lack of provision for the coverage of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.
Media workers under the tent pitched by GECOM
With the current national recount of all ballots cast in the elections being, perhaps, the most important activity and all of Guyana looking towards the media for their updates, media workers are forced to conduct their duties under a shed without chairs.
GECOM pitched a tent on the Liliendaal Railway Embankment outside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre where the media is supposed to be accommodated. The tent had no chairs or tables to aid in the execution of media workers’ duties. The Commission also failed to provide washroom access for the Journalists stationed outside the ACCC.
Additionally, with the current precautionary measures against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the tent is not large enough to practise physical distancing.
Following concerns raised by media workers on social media, proprietor of the Giftland Mall, Roy Beepat, offered his facilities to Journalists.
In a post on Facebook, Beepat said: “Dear Media, please contact our security Mr Baksh or Sutherland, we will provide you washroom facilities and some basic hospitality items.”
The Giftland Mall is located close to the ACCC.
GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward has since assured that she was working with the Commission on securing better accommodation. One option is the National Aquatic Centre; however, it is some distance from where the actual recount is being conducted and this has been cited as something that would make the media’s job harder.
Another option that can be available, Ward said, is the lawns inside the ACCC compound. However, she has indicated that this must be approved.
Since the conclusion of the voting process in the March 2 elections, GECOM has been accused of disrespecting the press. Prior to the hosting of the elections, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) was assured by GECOM that provisions would be made for the media via a media centre.
The media centre was set up in the Ashmin’s Building at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, but the media was not allowed to access it after March 5.
Since then, the media has been forced to brave the elements and even intimidation by political supporters, to bring updates to the Guyanese people.
