The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has urged that media houses find a way to deal with content that has the potential of promoting race-based politics and racial insecurity. The commission made this appeal after concluding that “unacceptable” statements were contained in items published by Kaieteur News and Stabroek News.
The July 1, 2010 complaint focused on the content of four articles in which the authors are accused of “promoting racial insecurity, advocating race-based politics, and making vile allegations of racist behaviour against members of the government.” The article, “King Kong sent his goons to disrupt the conference,” “Ruling Class racist ideology is back in vogue in Guyana”, and “Return to Slavery” were published as a column and letters respectively in the Kaieteur News ; while “Outrage at historical conference must be condemned” was published as a letter in the Stabroek News. These published items concerned the annual academic conference of the Guyana Historical Institute held at the National Library on June 26, 2010, and a disruption by hecklers during a presentation by Kaieteur News columnist and University of Guyana lecturer Freddie Kissoon.
Acting under Article 212 D of the Constitution of Guyana, the ERC said that, at a specially convened meeting on April 11, its deliberations on the matter formed the basis of the findings, released on Tuesday.
However, the National Media and Publishing Company Ltd, which publishes Kaieteur News, has since stated its disagreement with the allegations being made against it.
The ERC also requested a comment from the Guyana Publications Inc, which publishes Stabroek News, and noted that the company requested a copy of the original complaint from the Office of the President. The ERC said it requested the information from OP, “but to date that has not been received”
According to the ERC, some statements in the articles published by Kaieteur News were “unacceptable” from its point of view, and “may be calculated and capable of exciting ill-will against a particular ethnic grouping.” It said the statements may also be in breach of the provision of the Representation of the People Act 2001. In this regard, the ERC has advised that there should have been “sound editorial judgment, scrutiny and consideration” applied to the articles, while warning that their publication could be “misleading and dangerous.”
The ERC said it found it surprising that, when brought to the attention of the National Media and Publishing Company Ltd, the response from the company seemed to suggest that there was nothing wrong with the statements. Additionally, it said, exercising an abundance of caution is often required, particularly since all should be aware of the grave dangers associated with the reporting of spurious and dangerous claims/opinions that can lead to racial tensions in Guyana.
Moreover, The ERC said the statements published in the Stabroek News letter cannot withstand factual scrutiny, and should be the subject of greater editorial oversight, which it noted seems to be lacking.
The ERC noted that while freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution, it is not an absolute right and must be practised in a responsible manner. Further, Article 146 (3) provides that freedom of expression does not relate to hate speeches or other expression, in whatever form, capable of exciting ill-will against any person or class of persons. “The Commission finds that media houses have an important role to play in society, and that this obligation includes the (publishing) of news and opinions that are truthful and not calculated to mislead the public,” it said. “The Commission notes that in a free democracy, where press freedom is paramount, the views and opinions of all persons must be respected, and that the media operatives should guard against undue censorship. At the same time, this (action) must be balanced with sound editorial oversight, sensitivity, prudence and judgment when going to press.”
It also said it will not abdicate its constitutional responsibility and allow the public dissemination of dubious and dangerous information under the guise of freedom of information, or the imparting of information and ideas of public interest, without due comment. It said that, in a country with a shared history that includes division and hate, it does not augur well for responsible media houses to place into the public domain information that is racially charged.
“As this country moves forward and attempts the continued process of race healing and of eliminating the scars of our collective history, the press has its duty, indeed an obligation, to be part of this process,” the ERC said.
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