Days after it was alleged that a Government Minister had complained about the content of the articles written by outspoken columnists, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive, Dr David Hinds and veteran Trade Unionist Lincoln Lewis, President David Granger on Wednesday denied that there was any political interference in the decision to discontinue the columns that often times criticised the coalition Administration.
“I have not interfered, my Government has not interfered (in the decision)… You heard me over the years, I’m a strong support of the free press. I’m also a strong supporter of responsible press, I’ve said this over and over again, and I’ve offered to support the Guyana Press Association in their educational work. And as a politician, I welcome criticisms because this helps me to correct faults and to improve the quality of the performance of the Government so I don’t have any objection,” Granger said, distancing his Administration from the decision to sack the two columnists.
Earlier this week, WPA activist and former Member of Parliament (MP), Desmond Trotman, had revealed that it was a senior Alliance For Change (AFC) Minister who informed the Guyana Chronicle’s Editor-in-Chief, Nigel Williams, about Cabinet’s dissatisfaction with the writings of the now fired columnists.
“…I was told that a senior Minister who belongs to the AFC… was one of the persons who conveyed to the Editor-in-Chief of the Chronicle that there is dissatisfaction within the Cabinet about the direction that those two columnists were going…,” Trotman said during a television programme on Sunday.
He went on to say, “The previous Chairman of the Guyana Chronicle was at odds with the other members of the Board, because he wanted the Chronicle to go in a certain direction and members of the Board objected to that, and I think it led to his resignation. That person holds a high position in the Prime Minister’s Office, and I sense that he wields tremendous influence… (Because) I suspect that he belongs to the same party that the Prime Minister belongs to.”
However, the Head of State when probed on Wednesday maintained that he is unaware of the circumstances under which the men were fired.
“I have not inquired about or into the right of the Editor to make editorial decisions. I don’t know if there was a contract (and) if the contract was broken. I don’t know if there has been any improper action but as far as I’m concerned, all I can see is that an editor does what an editor does. He makes the best choices to make sure that his newspaper is newsworthy,” Granger posited.
Further asked whether he thought the content of columns of Lewis and Dr Hinds were irresponsible, President Granger said “It is not for me to say, as I said I did not appoint them. I don’t know what circumstances govern their relationship with the paper and I’m not going to express an opinion about the content.”
Nevertheless, the Head of State outlined that over recent weeks, Government has been implementing regional public broadcasting systems throughout the country, having recognised the need for the public to receive information, particularly through the State media, which would help them make decisions.
“So there is a role for public information and the Chronicle… is a public information medium… Every medium has a role and as a State medium, I’m sure the Editor-in-Chief of the Chronicle would have some perception of the role of the paper,” the President asserted.
The Board of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), parent company of the Guyana Chronicle, had maintained that it played no role in the sacking of the two columnists, saying it was neither consulted on nor approved such a decision.
Despite this, the Board had voted by a one seat majority to support the editorial decision, saying that it has no authority to reverse a decision taken by the Editor-in-Chief who has the authority to hire, fire and reinstate columnists. However, this has not gone down well with some members, with three of them – WPA Executive Member Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, veteran Journalist Bert Wilkinson and Communications Specialist Karen Davis – tendering their resignation on Tuesday. Since the firing of Lewis and Hinds, several Executives of the WPA have come out condemning the actions of the State newspaper. WPA’s Tacuma Ogunseye has since expressed the opinion that his party should leave the coalition, since its views are being silenced. He has been very vocal in the media.
