KN reporter sanctioned for unruly behaviour

Security at the Office of the President was summoned at the post media briefing after what was considered “confrontational’ behaviour by Kaieteur News reporter Neil Marks.

Press and Publicity Officer Kwame McCoy sent for the Presidential Guard after Marks interjected several times while Minister Baksh was answering his question on the ongoing saga. “This is not your press conference, mind you,” McCoy told the reporter who retorted “It’s not yours, either”. For the remainder of the media conference, McCoy ignored attempts by Marks to field other questions, saying that a reporter was limited to two questions and Marks had exhausted his.

After the conclusion of the media briefing, the reporter approached Dr Roger Luncheon on the issue of security being brought into the room. The Cabinet Secretary responded: “Anytime someone comes here and behaves in a certain way, we are preemptive. We’re not going to wait; it’s a policy I came and inherited and I fully endorse: we always are prepared.”

The Guyana Press Association in a statement said the OP had overreacted in summoning a guard in the room.

Meanwhile in a statement of its own, the OP said Marks had taken it upon himself to be obtrusive, rude and overtly antagonistic.” He constantly interrupted the briefing by heckling, talking loudly while others had the floor and hurling snide remarks throughout the briefing. Although he was warned by the moderator that he was out of order, Marks persisted with his unprofessional behaviour.” According to the OP statement, after several warnings on no less than five occasions, Marks’ behaviour did not abate and the security personnel was summoned as a precautionary measure in keeping with OP’s standard operating procedures.

The statement added that even the presence of the security did not deter Marks from what appeared to be ‘’planned misconduct’’. “Mr Marks’ disruptive and uncouth behaviour was unnecessary and avoidable. The moderator’s action resulted from his several interjections, while others were speaking including head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon; and Minister of Education Shaik Baksh and his colleague reporters.”

The OP said the public must be reminded that the moderator ensures order at press briefings apart from giving reporters an equal opportunity to pose their questions. “No one person can dominate, as Mr Marks was insisting that he be given the floor unlimited and to his own leisure. Mr Marks was afforded the same number of opportunities to pose questions which were all addressed.

At no time was Mr Marks impeded, nor his questions ignored. He was the second of the seven reporters who asked questions, including Kwesi Isles of Demerara Waves, Telesha Persaud of Guyana Chronicle, Janelle Persaud of Guyana Times, Adele Rampersaud of NCN, Chad Ramsaroop of MTV and Zoisa Fraser of Stabroek News.”