Dear Editor,
While browsing the Internet, I came upon this quote by famous fashion designer Nicola Formichetti, “The dark side of social media is that, within seconds, anything can be blown out of proportion and taken out of context. And it’s very difficult not to get swept up in it all”.
We can survive the stream of selected expletives, which has become the trademark of some social media ‘presenters’, but it is a crying shame when a presenter wilfully, and with malice aforethought, distorts what is said in attempting to influence the listener or reader to act in a certain manner, hoping that he/she does not investigate the veracity of the statements.
But I dare say that, on many occasions, the distortion will not be questioned by a certain group, since it coincides with what is its agenda. This person in turn will ‘like’ and ‘share’ in order for the misinformation to spread to as many persons as possible.
In fact, these ‘presenters’ will actually persuade the receivers to do so. And as Nicola concluded, within seconds, “anything can be blown out of proportion and taken out of context”.
A few days ago, there was yet another typical example where the Vice President of Guyana made a statement in one of his press conferences with regards to the abuse of social media, and this was speedily taken out of context and misrepresented by the usual suspects.
I read a lengthy article which sought to attribute credibility to an interview with Mark Benschop, who totally distorted what the Vice President said on 28th December, 2023. This ‘social activist’ took pieces from what the VP said and spun it to give his own devilish twist. He failed to address the entire statement, and quoted out of context.
The VP made it pellucid, in no uncertain terms, that he totally promotes free speech, free media, and a free society, but he condemns those who seek to divide the Guyanese people along ethnic lines and take away people’s freedom. According to him, these are “non-negotiables”, and people must be held responsible for what they post. And if they are certain about the ‘facts’, then they should be unafraid about being sued or ensuing legal actions, since they can defend themselves in a court of law.
He added that social media users should not ‘fabricate things about people, destroying lives and families…trying to extort them using information that they may have gleaned from third party sources, or when they just try to destroy this country or break the laws’, since they will now be held legally accountable.
Those who are upset need to understand that the VP was simply echoing the intention and content of the Cybercrime Act 2018, which was passed by the Coalition Government.
I request that those who seek to distort what the VP said listen to that press conference and read the 2018 Act, specifically Sections 18 and 19, which speak in detail about offences against the State and using the electronic media to coerce, harass, intimidate, humiliate, etc. a person. The fine is hefty, and the jail term is five years, if convicted.
It would seem that the so-called activists and others want to legalise a crime which is a crime in Guyana and in any part of the world, but these so-called activists should not be allowed to sit overseas and create mayhem and destruction to people’s lives. The AG, Honorable Nandlall, summed this up accurately and unambiguously when he stated in his insightful and judicious programme ‘Issues in the News’ that people like Burke should not be allowed to be in New York and ‘violate the laws of the world’. This is what some overseas-based Guyanese believe, supported by their counterparts in Guyana.
The AG, in his programme on January 2nd, went on to give a free legal lesson to some lawyers who cannot discern between a summons and a warrant, and the difference between the jurisdiction of the courts with relation to summary and indictable offences. He presented, in his trademark persuasive and effective style, arguments to debunk the notion that a summons cannot be served abroad. In addition, the VP’s statement is in line with the Cybercrime Act, and perfectly echoes the justice that people deserve when lies are fabricated against them which can potentially destroy their lives and livelihoods, and the AG effectively provided the legal basis through which relief can be sought.
A person cannot simply go on social media and spew whatever lies and distortions please him/her with complete impunity. That person must be held accountable, and our legal system provides for that, and is not deficient in any way.
It is time that social media users living abroad and in Guyana be held accountable for their false and malicious utterances against those living in Guyana. These people should ensure that what they are presenting to the people is the truth. We must be cognizant of Sir Winston Churchill’s statement, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on”. Such is the speed of irreparable damage which can be done via social media.
Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf
