GECOM Media Monitoring Unit fires back at critics

In its latest report, the Media Monitoring Unit said the unrelenting attacks against it bear the distinguishable hallmarks of a plot aimed at shutting it up, for reasons that might not be too difficult to fathom.

GECOM Media Monitoring Unit fires back at critics

The Media Monitoring Unit of the Guyana Elections Commission has rejected attempts by political parties and their leaders to “muzzle” the unit by attacking the contents of previous reports in which it condemned and pin pointed unacceptable campaign rhetoric and behaviors that were carried in the media.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo and his People’s Progressive Party have been openly criticizing the Unit since it described his Babu John statements as “racially divisive”. His speech was carried in its entirety by the state owned National Communications Network and a few private tv stations.

In its latest report, the Media Monitoring Unit said the unrelenting attacks against it bear the distinguishable hallmarks of a plot aimed at shutting it up, for reasons that might not be too difficult to fathom.

“To those politicians who are slinging barbs in our direction, we would like them to remember what happened during and after the 1992, 1997 and 2001 pre-, and post-elections periods in this country, when an unregulated media was used as the main tool for fomenting internecine strife; and the consequences of the societal disorder that eventuated,” the Unit stated.

The Unit said since first Report was released it has been accused of “impertinence by leading and well-known politicians in the country”.

According to the body, “some choice pejorative terms such as “Rogue Unit” to define the Unit but the MMU has rejected such criticisms out rightly along with claims that its Reports are aimed at creating civil unrest.”

“In the face of all the fallacious allegations made against our group of qualified, trained and hard-working staff, over the past month or so, we have remained stoic, and to a large extent, deliberately mute, because we are comforted by the reality that they are unfounded. Indeed, no rational mind would read our Reports and arrive at such tangled analyses or convoluted conclusions as we have been witnessing recently,” the MMU said in a statement signed by its Manager.

In the midst of the attacks, the unit has sought to remind the public that its remit is exclusive to media content only and that reports are duly premised on the Elections Media Code of Conduct and it has never sought to involve itself in the politics of the country.

“In a surreal kind of way, it is rather bemusing that a body like the MMU which diligently seeks to facilitate responsible media self-regulation in this country, would inadvertently raise the ire of politicians,” the statement by the MMU Manager added.

The MMU noted that despite the disquieting distractions that abound, it has resolved not to be nonplused.

“We will continue to execute our mandate in a fair, objective and professional manner at all times. Our prime obligation is to the local media fraternity, and once they remain satisfied with our work and continue to repose confidence in us, we shall remain steadfast in implementing the Elections Media Code of Conduct”

According to the MMU manager, the unit never signed a pact with any politician or political party, in this country and as such it “will never succumb to, or be amenable to political diktat.”

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