The Independent Media Workers Association of Guyana (IMAG) has expressed its deep concern over the resignation of Guyana Times reporter/ Television Guyana news anchor Leana Bradshaw and her colleagues Whitney Persaud and Sabatini Daniels.
In a statement, IMAG said it understands that Bradshaw resigned because she was afraid for her life after being asked to present a news item concerning the owner and publisher of the Kaieteur newspaper, Glenn Lall.
“IMAG believes that the expression of fear in the execution of professional journalistic duties is a troubling development in the Guyana media landscape, which is deserving of much attention and discussion. IMAG is in solidarity with the reporters who resigned as it considers the safety and well-being of journalists to be a most sacrosanct cornerstone of the profession.”
Concerns
The body said it stood in the defence of the media’s right to report fearlessly on any public official or issue where the news is in the public’s interest. In particular, Guyana Times ’ efforts to pursue issues it considers to be in the public’s interest should also be safeguarded within the confines of freedom of the press. IMAG has contacted Bradshaw and her colleagues to discuss their concerns.
Bradshaw, resigned on Tuesday, citing fear for her safety in light of a recent series of explosive, investigative articles about Kaieteur News’ owner and publisher Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall.
On Sunday, the reporter had initially met with an editor and explained that she had serious reservations about reading a story concerning Lall on television, as she believed she could be identified and targeted.
Later that afternoon, when the reporter was told to read the story, she demurred and subsequently, without the knowledge and approval of the editor, excised the story about Lall from the newscast for the Sunday Evening News.
