The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has joined the rest of the world in observing World Press Freedom Day 2016 and is seeking to have lawmakers decriminalize defamation via the use of cyberspace.
“We believe that if the legislation is passed in its current form, it could potentially be utilized to criminalize defamation via the Internet,” the Association said in a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day.
The GPA is extremely concerned that if its submission to remove this provision is not taken on board it shall enact a provision that appears to be direct contrast to the abolition of criminal defamation in several Caribbean and other countries. The Guyana Press Association also used the opportunity to salute all members of the media fraternity as it bring into sharper focus the importance of access to information as a critical element to the globally enshrined right of Freedom of Expression.
“The GPA welcomes President David Granger’s unequivocal commitment to guarantee a conducive environment especially in the publicly-funded Guyana Chronicle and National Communications Network (NCN) – an environment that is free from harassment and editorial dictatorship by the political directorate. We trust that such a commitment will realize the end of decades-long political interference in the media,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Georgetown congratulated local journalists on the occasion and called on them to be responsible and professional.
The Embassy said this year’s World Press Freedom Day is especially significant in Guyana because, as the government nears completion of its first full year in office, and on the heels of the first local government elections in over twenty-two years, the press has a critical role in educating and informing the public.
“Issues of transparency and accountability, the effective and efficient use of natural resources such as oil, gold, and timber, gender equality, health care, prison reform and the justice system, and so much more, must be part of a robust public discussion in a thriving democracy like Guyana,” the statement added.
The Embassy said the next 50 years is likely to see tremendous change as Guyana is poised to transform from one of the poorest nations in the region to one of the wealthiest, and it will need a free press to make this transition successful.
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