The Guyana Press Association says it is prepared to play a meaningful role in acquiring a greater understanding of the Government's decision to withdraw advertisements from Stabroek News.
At the same time, the GPA said, it is ensuring that the viability of the media is preserved and media freedom is a hallmark of the country's evolving democracy.
In a release, the GPA said it notes with deep concern the apparent decision by the Government to withdraw most advertisements from the privately-owned Stabroek News.
“While, in the context of the Inter American Press Association's (IAPA) Declaration of Chapultepec it appears that move could be regarded as a dastardly attack on press freedom, the GPA stands ready to play a meaningful role in having the matter resolved.”
The GPA stated that it is always mindful of such instances whenever they emerge, having regard to pre-1992 when the then administration had severely curtailed access, not only to the state media, by its critics, but suffocated the importation of newsprint by newspapers that it had considered virtual enemies of the State.
“In this context, we trust that there is no relationship between the alleged decision to cease the placement of most Government advertisements in Stabroek News and criticisms by the Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo, and the governing People's Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) in recent months”
The GPA unequivocally stated that while the occupants of the corridors of power and national decision-making are often under greater scrutiny by the media—the Fourth Estate—they should not be punished or appear to be punished for it.
The Press Association says it remains vigilant against cowardly acts by Governments which seek to use State resources as a weapon against media that are critical of its policies, views and decisions on matters.
“The GPA trusts that, as a signatory to the Inter American Press Association's (IAPA) Declaration of Chapultepec, the Government would take every necessary step to revisit its position”, the release stated.
The Association says it has already informed the umbrella Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM).
The Stabroek News' statement and the GPA's initial reaction, it said, have also been communicated to Reporters San Frontiers (Reporters without Borders). An executive meeting of the association would be held very shortly to decide on additional courses of action, the GPA said.