THE Government Information Agency (GINA) has restated its position on placing government advertisements in local newspapers following continuing criticism by the privately-owned Stabroek News of the decision to withdraw ads from that newspaper.
GINA, in a statement Saturday, said the government’s position on the matter includes its policy to place its advertisements in two dailies.
“As such, the two chosen newspapers are the state-owned Guyana Chronicle and one private newspaper -- the Kaieteur News since that newspaper has proven itself to be the most widely-read and far-reaching newspaper in the country”, the agency said.
It said that as was previously highlighted, GINA, like every other government agency, is bound by fiscal regulations and therefore is obligated to garner maximum returns from the tax-paying dollars.
The agency said it has observed once again that in an effort to solicit allies in its obvious displeasure over the government’s withdrawal of advertisements from the Stabroek News, the newspaper “has set out to stack as high as it possibly could, increased criticisms of the administration.”
“This is being done through the newspaper’s lobbying efforts to a number of organisations and agencies as it attempts to also garner sympathetic ears”, GINA said.
It said that despite several explanations from various officials about why the decision was taken, including lengthy clarification on the issue, Stabroek News “continues to seek to settle scores on a daily basis using the tactic that the government’s move is an attack on freedom of expression and press freedom.”
GINA added that the Stabroek News and all other agencies now attempting to join the newspaper in its unsubstantiated criticisms “never cried foul in Stabroek News’ heyday when the Kaieteur News and other newspapers were not enjoying a large circulation and when the Stabroek News enjoyed and preserved a monopoly over state advertisements.”
It charged that the Stabroek News continues to link the reason of the withdrawal of the advertisements to the fact that the government is being vindictive towards the newspaper because of the newspaper’s acknowledged biased reporting and criticisms of the government.
“This argument”, the agency said, “does not stand up to rigorous testing. Should this be the reason for the withdrawal of the advertisements, then government advertisements would have also been withdrawn from the Kaieteur News as criticisms of government officials and the administration’s policies are plastered on a daily basis in the Kaieteur News as well.”
It added: “The Government of Guyana reiterates its firm commitment to private sector development and has cemented its partnership as substantiated by the National Competitiveness Strategy. The strategy outlines a modern, practical, forward-looking partnership between government and the private sector as one of its key areas to develop Guyana.
What is important to note is that government has not pulled its advertisements from the private sector and has no intention of doing so.”