Govt. denies being paranoid over negative reports on Guyana

Aug 08, 2008 News

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, has said that Cabinet has taken a position that an article carried in the Stabroek News about this country hosting Carifesta X is hostile.

At his post-Cabinet media briefing, yesterday at the Office of the President, Dr. Luncheon noted that the public relations focus on the hosting of Carifesta X must be maintained productively; but, according to Luncheon, this has been undermined by the Stabroek News article, which he said saw it fit to highlight the negatives about Guyana.

Dr Luncheon accused the media of picking up from the anti-Carifesta stance that the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) took.

He noted that the PNCR is succeeding in pushing in its ‘acolytes’ to write some of the editorials in the newspapers.

Commenting on the articlein the Stabroek News, he said that it was deceptively reasonable, as it informs persons of where to be entertained when coming to Guyana.

The Cabinet Secretary noted that, at such a time, the article was intended to discourage people’s participation in Carifesta X.

In this regard, he said, Cabinet deemed that activity as being unpatriotic to the PPPC Government.

Dr Luncheon added that, with the wealth of print media in Guyana, they resort to highlight at this specific time these issues and unapologetically address them to leave a bad impression.

“I’m about to host Carifesta, and hosting countries out of the region and in the region, and hosting tourists, and then Stabroek News saying to people to come, but be aware.”

Dr Luncheon acknowledged that sometimes the people need to be reminded of the negatives in the country; but at the same time he questioned the collection of information and feasting it in the public domain at a time when the country is preparing to host Carifesta X.

Asked whether the position adopted by Cabinet bordered on paranoia, the Cabinet Secretary said that it was just a case of note that Stabroek news did not seek to make a similar protestation about the situation in other countries.

He acknowledged that the article appeared to be reasonable, but coming at this time, the Government could not help but conclude that it was intended to warn people away from Carifesta.

Cabinet is urging for an intensification of public participation in the beautification exercise and clean-up campaign in the country.

Cabinet has also approved the services of the Joint Services once again, and the integration of efforts of the private security firms to provide security during the hosting of the event.

As such, Cabinet was reassured by the Joint Services about their ability to handle Carifesta X.