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Monday, March 12, 2007
Guyanas President Bharrat came in for some sharp criticism from the Guyana Press association recently. The criticisms followed the head states questionable remarks about journalists in that country being lazy. The association wants the president to take the necessary steps to salvage what is obviously a rapidly deteriorating relationship with the media. Recently President Jagdeo in his address at the annual army officers conference, condemned the local media for its failure to ask searching questions about the United States report on Guyanas narcotics industry. The US issued two reports chiding the government for its apparent failure to tackle the narco-trade and to end human rights abuses by its security forces. Returning with a fierce response of its own, the GPA said that the president, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, should have used the forum to address pertinent National Security issues like the missing AK-47 assault rifles and the prolonged delay in the promotion of GDF of officers. The association reminded that the President was evidently evading the local media at the height of a controversy over the alleged wire-tap of the then Police Commissioner Felixs phone. The GPA also said that Perhaps the Presidents ill-founded perception is rooted in the fact that past and previous administrations, including his, have continued to frustrate experienced and competent media professionals to migrate from the media or the country, leaving very few to mentor new entrants.
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