Stabroek News has been reliably informed that the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) have joined the government ministries in the withdrawal of advertisements from the Stabroek News. Efforts have been made for the past five days to obtain confirmation of this information and an explanation for this decision from Mr Ronald Alli, the Chairman of both companies, so far without success.
With reference to the withdrawal of the Guysuco ads, Stabroek News Editor-in -hief David de Caires said he wrote to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ronald Alli on January 31 as follows: "Our advertising manager was shocked to be told this morning by someone in your Communications Department with whom we deal on the question of advertisements that no further ads will be received from your corporation by the Stabroek News and all your advertisements will be given to the Chronicle and Kaieteur News. Our Managing Director, Doreen de Caires immediately rang you and you told her you were not aware of any such decision.
I shall be grateful if, as promised, you will investigate this matter to ensure that no such instructions, which have clearly not been approved by you or your board, are in effect."
Alli called that evening to confirm he was not aware of any such decision and it had not been approved by him or his board. He also said that normally decisions about the placement of ads would not be made at board level. De Caires suggested that would surely not be the case where a permanent withdrawal of ads from a newspaper was involved as that was clearly a policy decision of some importance.
Alli promised to investigate the situation and call the next day. He did not call.
De Caires called the day after but Alli was not available. On February 2, 2007, he wrote to him again as follows: "I must say that I am disappointed at your failure to call as promised. We have now been told that the advertisements of Guyana Power and Light, of which you are also Chairman, have also been withdrawn. I suspect you knew nothing of this as well as what appears to be the case is that direct instructions are being given to persons in these corporations who handle advertisements from persons outside the corporation. This is, of course, quite improper legally as they have no locus standi in the company. I would have thought that your boards would have been very upset by such an undignified intrusion into the corporation's business and might have felt impelled to react in some way.
"I would still very much appreciate some response from you, by midday if possible. My direct line at office is [number given]. If I do not hear from you I shall be forced to conclude that the advertisements have been withdrawn by both these corporations and that neither you nor your boards are prepared to intervene to redress this unlawful situation."
Shortly after midday Alli rang to say he had not had enough time to investigate the matters. He said that he would respond but needed more time. De Caires said he was surprised the investigation was taking so long and suggested that a phone call to the relevant personnel could ascertain if such a decision was in place. De Caires later wrote to Alli indicating that he would wait until Monday to hear from him. There was no call from Alli up to yesterday.
Asked about the new development, de Caires said yesterday that it was clear that there was an all-out politically directed effort to suppress the newspaper.
He noted that the government had no legal right to interfere directly in the affairs of public corporations, or to give instructions to personnel in those corporations, as had been done in this case. Unfortunately, he said, this stripping of the corporate veil had taken place on several previous occasions where senior government officials have intervened indirectly and improperly in the affairs of corporations, without the knowledge or approval of senior executives or the board of directors, presenting the latter with a fait accompli which they felt unable or unwilling to reverse.
De Caires said this government was misusing taxpayers' money to place ads arbitrarily including in its party newspaper The Mirror in an effort to penalise this newspaper for its editorial views. This is a direct attack on freedom of the press and has tarnished the government's democratic credentials locally, regionally and internationally.
De Caires said the newspaper will continue to fight against this undemocratic behaviour. He noted that this action against Stabroek News should not be seen in isolation but as part of a broader pattern of arbitrary and authoritarian behaviour which did not bode well for the future. (Miranda La Rose)