Former president Janet Jagan is entitled to her opinion as a private citizen, President Bharrat Jagdeo said in response to her views calling for a reversal of the government's withdrawal of advertisements from the Stabroek News.
Mrs Jagan in her column in the Weekend Mirror said that "government advertisements should be spread through the media on a fair basis, despite circulation and content."
A GINA release yesterday said that when asked to comment on Mrs Jagan's statement, the President said that "Mrs Janet Jagan as a private citizen is entitled to her opinion. Her opinion is not government's policy, especially when the matter relates to the use of taxpayers' funds."
GINA said that "notwithstanding speculative reports and massive lobbying by Stabroek News and its Caribbean media kinfolks, the Stabroek News advertisement issue will not be on the agenda at this inter-sessional meeting."
The GINA release said that some significant agenda items at the inter-sessional meeting are the Jagdeo initiative for agriculture in the region, the expansive role of the Caribbean as hosts of cricket world cup, the Caribbean Single Market and Economy and external trade negotiations.