Submitted by Guyana Trades Union Congress (Press Release)
Recent reports in the Kaieteur News “Ramotar demotes Chronicle Editor after ‘Jagdeo’ story,” (22/3/2014), Guyana Times, “Jagdeo most formidable candidate –combined Opposition poll,” (20/3/2014) and Guyana Chronicle “Jagdeo favoured as PPP/C presidential candidate” (21/3/2014) confirms the disservice being done to this society by those misusing the fourth estate (media) in the façade for power grab. The GTUC is concerned about the level of misrepresentation and the implications it has for distorting public perception of understanding.
This society is being bombarded with fake polls, including the infamous NACTA poll, as a new weapon of the PPP that was good for President Ramator until the same weapon was turned against him. GTUC notes the president’s haste to act on this matter and calls on him to address the management of the State-owned media not only for self-serving reason but for the national good. The haste to address acts to preserve self-interest is contrary to action for the national good which the president can be very slothful about. This rapid reaction sends a signal that weren’t there negative reference to/implication for him, or his position personally threatened, this abuse of the state media would have been ignored.
GTUC is further concerned this Opinion Poll seems to have been conjured in some dark dungeon of Mr. Jagdeo and his cohorts corrupt minds and first published in the Guyana Times as a means of establishing face validity. The combined political opposition reportedly denied knowledge of commissioning this poll, which is contrary to the attribution given by the Times and Chronicle. The nation must now ask what ‘opposition’ solicited this poll and on whose interest it was commissioned, along with the methodology used. That this Poll’s coverage first appeared in the Guyana Times and storyline/plot later regurgitated in the Guyana Chronicle speaks to the misuse and abuse of the state media apparatus to positively rebrand Mr. Jagdeo’s despotic presidency, and foist on this nation its worst leader in history as more favourable in the public than other potential leaders.
The President who seems offended by the potential impact of this questionable poll is reminded that it is lack of professionalism that leads to such level of incredulous reporting. And whilst this may be a reflection of Mr. Jagdeo’s internal posturing in the PPP, the nation is made the victim of these circumstances of power grabbing. It is no secret the owner of Guyana Times and the New GPC has a close relationship with Mr. Jagdeo, has been the favourable recipient of State advertisements and holds monopoly on pharmaceuticals procurement for State run healthcare institutions. The nation ought to be concerned this relationship is also being used to undermine the society through media production and distribution of false reports, using the workers/citizens’ tax dollars.
This issue is symptomatic of a larger problem. The Opposition is therefore called on to take note and establish a bi-partisan parliamentary select committee to review the complete operation and management of State media boards (policy, content, structure, etc.) to arrive at decisions that would realise respect for and positively impact the masses and nation’s development. It is in theirs and the national interest to do so. The use of State institutions and taxpayers’ money for propaganda to create and sustain manufactured divisions through the plethora of lies that past as news is a disservice to the people.
The questionable poll is no different than the several fake polls published in the media to mislead a society socialised to believe what is seen in black and white and in the newspapers. This consequence is used to prey on and hold the masses hostage. GTUC is also concerned about the treatment of workers. Innocent workers must not be used as pawns in the PPP power struggle. A government that continues to operate inimical to the interest of the masses by using one of society’s major estate (media), a pillar of democracy, to serve its own interest and keep the people in darkness in pursuance of a herd-like mentality to continue the nefarious management of the affairs of state, must be held to account. The state media belong to the people and together we must work to ensure it serves our collective interest.
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