WPA re-launches Dayclean
Stabroek News
February 28, 2007
The Working People's Alliance (WPA) has re-launched the Dayclean Newspaper, in a bid to stimulate "a real public dialogue" on national issues.
According to WPA Coordinator Desmond Trotman, the party has seen the need to strengthen the discussion of national issues and, in particular, to help address the challenges that are confronting the people. "We hope to play a part in stimulating debate," he said, "And we will do as much as we can to ensure that discussions take place."
The new first edition was published and released for free last Wednesday. It featured an analysis of this year's national budget. Its editors noted that the paper is "re-emerging at a crucial juncture of our country's history - a time of increasing instability in spite of violence free general elections… [and] the significant fall in the level of lawlessness, violence and criminal brutality." They contend that "corruption remains endemic at all levels of society" and that "the narco-economy retains a stranglehold on economic activity." Additionally, with the furore surrounding the introduction of the Value Added Tax as well as the legalising of Casino Gambling they conclude that instability seems to be most heavily concentrated in the area of public policy design and implementation. It is in this context that they feel that the public debate is framed in a manner suggesting at most times a dialogue taking place between people who are not interested in what others have to say. "In such circumstances the focus is on signs and appearances rather than content, and the messenger rather than the message," they add.
The Dayclean first emerged in the 1980s as part of the efforts to highlight the repressive acts of the PNC administration that was then in power.
Trotman noted that during that period, the paper served as an instrument of information and debate in support of the struggles that were being made for free and fair elections. He added that the party believes that such an instrument is absolutely necessary once more, especially with the important features of democracy now seemingly under threat. He cited the government's withdrawal of ads from the Stabroek News as well as the administration's treatment of other media houses that appear not in concert with its opinions. He added that the larger issue of fundamental rights still needs to be addressed alongside other continually pressing areas like crime and security as well as corruption.