On Friday May 3 World Press Freedom day will be celebrated universally and the Alliance For Change would like to recognize the importance of this day.
The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day or World Press Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This year the issue of Press Freedom is again in the forefront especially as we celebrate 20 years of the Declaration of Chapultepec…a document that enshrines the commitment of nation states, including Guyana which is a signatory, “to preserve, promote and protect press freedom”.
In its preamble the Declaration, drafted by world leaders and journalists from the Americas, declares that “Without freedom there can be no true order, stability and justice. And without freedom of expression there can be no freedom.”
The Declaration contains ten fundamental principles necessary for a free press to comply with its essential role in a democracy.
The relevance of the Declaration lies in the fact that it commits journalists and citizens to defend and promote freedom of the press and freedom of expression as priorities to achieve the common good.”
As the chairman of the Chapultepec committee noted “The Declaration not only commits to permanently seeking the truth, demanding freedom and tolerance, but also commits us to respect standards and ethical criteria in communication.”
At this time the AFC continues to lament the fact that the state controlled media in Guyana continues to reject these core principles visible in the “shutting out” of a range of diverse views, especially those it deems “opposition” and continually failing to recognize the right of each citizen to receive information from all source, to reflect on it and to respectfully come to his or her own conclusions.
The role of journalists in fulfilling these objectives is vital and we note with alarm the reality in Guyana. To often independent journalists are labeled as being opposition for merely doing their work which is an unacceptable state of affairs.
Recently we observed a journalist attached to NCN being suspended for airing my budget presentation and we note today in the press another has been sent home.
This once again brings home the fact that the report into financial irregularities at NCN has still not been made public and this nation continues to wonder what specific action has been taken to remedy the situation.
The AFC recognizes the need to improve access to public information, public education, public participation in government and the building of public trust. The National Communications Network like other media are strategically placed to play this all important role.
As we recognize World Press Freedom Day, the AFC hopes that all in Guyana will focus on the application of these principles which are fundamental and essential for the public’s right to information and the strengthening of our democracy.
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