Dear Editor,
We have, over the last week, witnessed two more occurrences that have added to the already many violations of our people’s constitutional rights. These are:-
I. The passing of amendments to the Broadcasting Act, and
II. The instruction by the President to halt police promotions.
These measures are indicators as to the direction that our country is drifting towards. They are dangerous, since they violate fundamental freedoms and rights.
The broadcasting amendments are aimed to ultimately repossess licences granted legally to owners/operators of radio and television facilities.
One of the characteristic features of a past PNC regime was its intolerance of any independent organisation and to different points-of-view.
We must not forget, too, that it was the PNC/APNU that stifled press freedom. The privately owned “Argosy” and “Graphic” newspapers were taken over by the then PNC regime. This was particularly after the massively rigged 1973 elections. Recall the journalists of the “Graphic” — Ricky Singh and Ric Mentus — who were forced to leave Guyana in search of jobs abroad. Their “crime”? Ric Mentus, editor of the Sunday Graphic, wrote an editorial headlined “The Mind Bogglers.” Ricky Singh’s column was titled “The Shame is Greater than the Victory.” This was in the post 1973 army takeover of the elections.
We also must not forget the gallant battle waged by the “Mirror” in defence of democracy and press freedom. For that, it was starved of newsprint and ink to publish its evening and Sunday editions. It still has not fully recovered from those blows.
The “Catholic Standard” was also reduced to a minuscule version of what it was. The attack on that paper took place because of the fearlessness of Father Wong, who edited the paper in the early 1970s. He, too, was removed as editor of that paper. After the 1973 elections, he wrote an article titled ‘The Fairy Tale Elections.’
Therefore, the move to implement amendments to the Broadcasting Act is a clear and very ominous sign.
The regime has the most powerful media unit in its hands. It owns the national television station, with the widest coverage in the country. It also controls the most powerful radio station in Guyana.
The Prime Minister is in charge of a big media apparatus owned by the regime. Further, each minister now has a public relations unit.
With all of this, Government personnel are demanding one hour from private radio and television stations.
There is no reasonable justification for this. The regime has more than enough media facilities to get its views out to the public. The only explanation is because it wants to control and minimise this indispensable right to a functioning democracy – freedom of expression.
This is only the beginning.
The other issues relate to the subversion of constitutional bodies. The instruction by the President to the Police Service Commission is taking us on a road to chaos.
These bodies have emerged in democracies to ensure their independence; to ensure their proper functioning, and to insulate it from political dictation.
These undemocratic practices will have serious effects on the whole country. Every section of the population will be affected. Our economy will decline, as these and other such measures taken by the Granger Administration take hold.
It will lead to massive corruption, as accountability will disappear. It will lead to further migration, whereby we will lose our young professionals and the brightest in the society.
Human capital is vital to a country’s development. These policies will chase many of our best minds away.
It is time to stand up now. Let your voices be heard before it is too late.
The regime must be forced to abandon its plans to stifle freedom of expression, and must respect our constitution and the rule of law.
Sincerely,
Donald Ramotar
