The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) said it is deeply concerned about the possible implications of the decision to withdraw all of the advertisements of the government ministries and departments from the Stabroek News.
In a press release yesterday the GMSA expressed concern about the implications for the viability of a marketing business as well as "for the continued existence of a free press in Guyana".
The release said it has been explained that the withdrawal of advertisements was based on the respective circulation of the local papers, on the responses to ads placed in those papers and on financial and economic considerations.
"We must challenge the explanation and will take those rationalisations seriously only when they are supported by evidence that flows from a scientific survey and from audited circulation figures," the GMSA said.
It said it believes any analysis of readership would indicate that the Stabroek News is widely read and respected. "The paper occupies a specific market niche in the public domain which is of direct concern to the business and economic circles for which government advertising is appropriate."
It added that in the absence of any structural commercial evaluation of the print media, the refusal to allocate an appropriate portion of government advertising to the Stabroek News suggests an unfair and discriminatory policy.
"There have been suggestions that the decision to withdraw has been influenced by a sensitivity to criticism and editorial comment published by the newspaper. In those circumstances, it would be necessary to remind ourselves of the declaration of free press principles contained in the Declaration of Chapultepec, Clause 7 of which states 'the granting or withdrawal of government advertising may not be used for reward or punish the media or individual journalists'. The Head of Government and State of this country signed that declaration which urges respect for freedom of expression. We are expected to demonstrate that respect," the GMSA said.
The statement said the GMSA believes that not every factor was taken into consideration when the decision to withdraw ads was taken and it urges, despite public comments of the unavailability of room for revisiting the cut-off, that, in the interest of all, a review be made of the decision.
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President Dr Nanda K Gopaul had instructed the Government Informa-tion Agency (GINA) to withdraw advertisements from this newspaper since last year.
Editor in Chief of the Stabroek News David de Caires had rejected a claim by the Government of Guyana that the withdrawal was a commercial decision and said it constituted an apparent reversal of government's policy of respect for freedom of expression and an attack on the free press. On January 3, 2007 de Caires wrote to Director of GINA Dr Prem Misir referring to the cessation of advertisements which he said had resulted directly from a political directive from Gopaul and stated that this was a direct attack on the newspaper for political reasons and was completely unacceptable.
On January 9, 2007, Coordinator of GINA's Advertising Unit Karen Persaud, in a reply which referred to the letter, said "the issues raised have been acknowledged and have now been presented to the relevant department for review". No other explanation was provided. At his last post-Cabinet briefing, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon said that the matter didn't warrant review at this time.
GINA had said in response to the newspaper that the decision to review the placement of government advertisements in SN was a "GINA policy decision and was in no way influenced by the directive of any senior government official" and it also said that the government will continue to monitor the situation.