Guyana appeared today for the third consecutive day before the UN Human Rights Committee and one of the issues raised was the Government’s perceived control over state media and influence over some privately owned media.

American Human Rights Advocate, Laurence Helfer who sat on the Committee, said the Committee was concerned about reports of the Government censoring Opposition voices in the state media.

He said the Committee also noted reports politicization in the media.

“The Committee is concerned about reports that more than 90% of mass media are either controlled by state party or are owned by Indo- Guyanese who support the government. The Committee is also aware of reports of politicization in the media. For example, we have received information indicating that the National Broadcasting Authority, whose board members are appointed by the President, lacks full independence and impartiality,” Helfer said.

He said that the Committee is also aware of credible reports of Government officials and supporters harassing reporters, citing the heckling of Kaietuer News reporters at a Government Press Conference in 2022.

“In addition, reports indicate that officials are often intolerant of journalists who question government’s policies especially in the extractive sector. The Committee is further concerned about reports of surveillance of Journalists, media workers and human rights defenders,” Helfer stated.

Further, Helfer put it to Minister Teixeira that the 2018 Cyber Crime laws are being used to silence Government critics on social media. He said there appears to be an attempt to shut down social media influencers and rights activists, who may be critical of the Government, citing the summons served on political activist, Rickford Burke in New York last year.

In response, Governance Minister Gail Teixeria said it is dangerous for the Committee to receive reports that private media are aligned to the Government, since that is not the case.

“I wish the government was so popular and had such massive support across the country, in fact that is not so.  We have majority support but not in the way that it is being conveyed here or by persons or information shared with the Committee. But the majority of the media are privately owned and if one is to check the newspapers and television stations of Guyana, one would find that, there are quite independent in their views including the coverage of this committee,” Teixeira stated.

She said as it relates to the business of private media houses, the Government will not be able to respond to those concerns.

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