Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 18, 2016 News
-Prompts objections from opposition over freedom of expression
During Tuesday’s session in the National Assembly, a heated exchange between Attorney General Basil Williams and his predecessor, Anil Nandlall, over who bore responsibility for $16M budgeted for a luxury vehicle precipitated a war of words over the rights and freedom of the press.
This was after Williams alleged that an article from an online news outfit was libelous. In an unusual move, he called for either an apology and retraction or sanctions against the outfit. All this occurred while the House was in full session and the news outlet was present.
Tuesday’s exchange between Nandlall and Williams had been covered by the daily newspapers, TV stations and internet bloggers either present in the house or utilizing the live feed. Among them had been the online news outfit.
After a tea break, Williams stood and immediately protested to Speaker of the House, Dr. Barton Scotland, about the online article of that afternoon which he said was inaccurate, libelous and an abuse of the privilege of the House.
“The blog purported to give an account (of when I) was answering questions in relation to the estimates of the Ministry of Legal Affairs,” Williams had said, raising his concerns. “The account is wholly inaccurate and libelous.”
“Answering a question (from) Nandlall, (I) said (I) was able to prevent the Government from being defrauded by refusing to accept as a new vehicle, a used vehicle that was being passed off,” he had said. “The account given by the blogger purports to give an account that (I) was misleading the House by alleging fraud and not saying what the fraud was.”
Williams went on to remind the House that he had spoken clearly about the circumstances of the “fraud”. He made it clear that the article was deliberately constructed to exclude what he actually said.
“It impugns (my) integrity,” the Attorney General said. “I am asking the Speaker to sanction and call upon the blogger (to apologize). I am calling for action to be taken against this scandalous and wanton attempt.”
Williams stated that if facts are going to be misconstrued, then the offending media practitioner should be excluded. This sparked an uproar arose on the opposition side. There were shouts of, “This is the people’s House.”
While he had demanded redress from the Speaker either in the form of the outfit apologizing and correcting the publication or sanctions, Scotland dissuaded him from continuing his complaints on the floor. Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had also risen and objected to Williams’ presentation, noting that it is an unusual form of seeking redress.
“One of the most sacrosanct rights is the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press,” Teixeira said. “It is highly unusual for any Government MP to raise issues published in the media. We never used the Parliament while in Government in such an undignified manner.”
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) also issued a press release yesterday. It emphasized that press coverage of Parliamentary sessions was a crucial facet in a democratic society and must be encouraged, not curtailed.
“It is against this backdrop that one must view the complaint of Williams that a particular press outfit should be ordered to apologize or be prevented from entering the House,” the party continued.
“The citizens have the right to know about the working of their Parliament which is vital to the good governance and equitable development for the society.”
“The importance of building a strong professional relationship between the media and the parliamentarians and the political parties that is based upon mutual respect and recognition of their existence is essential for a healthy working democracy. Parliament and the media must recognize, accept and understand their respective roles in the democratic process.”
The party also encouraged parliamentarians to not overreact to critical or unfavourable stories. The media had a free choice to report and comment within the bounds of parliamentarian and legal rules and for Parliamentarians to endeavor to develop cordial relations with reporters, Teixeira said.
Guyana’s constitution provides for freedom of speech; there have been unpleasant episodes during the PPP’s time in government, when its relations with the independent press deteriorated. These include lawsuits and court injunctions, as well as times when the then PPP government pulled advertisements from leading dailies whose content it objected to.
It has been said that these clashes affected Guyana’s international standing. The Reporters without Borders World Press Freedom index ranked Guyana at 67 spaces in 2014, two spaces below its 2012 rankings. Countries such as Haiti (47), Jamaica (17), Suriname (31) and Trinidad (43) fared much better.
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