Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
Where your views make the news
Page 5
Letters... Where your views make the news
Entertaining Violence Press freedom and people’s rights DEAR EDITOR, It would be difficult to determine which is the greater preference – the abhorrence of violence in the streets, or enjoyment of the entertainment it provides in our homes, on our TV screens, as a matter of course every day and night. It is as if TV would not be worth looking at without a measure of violent entertainment. This of course excludes religious programmes, too many of whom, on the other hand, are founded on an island isolated from the brutal challenges of daily life. In a wry sense, therefore, one cannot seek refuge from violence by recourse to religion – a contestable viewpoint understandably. So it is with some concern that those of us who may have crossed over the age of virile posturings, and forgone the indulgence of a purported masculinity, view the increasing bombardment of images of violence in other lands, that is apart from the unavoidable news stories, and interpret the mimicry inherent in
the behaviour of local perpetrators, including those who are employed to serve (us) and protect (themselves). So adult (and young) viewers who live with the limited presentations of the domestic TV service are befuddled by the peremptory and unexplained deletion of programmes that contain analyses, commentaries (pro and con) reasoned and u n r e a s o n a b l e argumentations, about international issues which may have an impact on domestic perspectives of individuals and communities; and even politicians. Discourses from which lessons can be learnt, without the bias of party inputs. It was this sort of programming from which the writer and colleagues found totally deleted, with two minority presentations – in Rachel Maddow and the Rev. Sharpton from – MSNBC – unceremoniously excluded. In its place can be found programming that focuses on violence and police investigations – ID, on top of NCIS, Law and Order, Scorpion and many more regular
films repetitively emphasising that murder and intrigue are a staple diet in this deprived (if not depraved) community, as they are in say ‘developed’ USA, where there is greater selectivity, including those which can lead to more positive education. We therefore have perpetrators and victims programmed subconsciously to their roles in preparation for the eventual collision. And it is not as if those employed to investigate seemed to have benefitted from the mass of portrayals, despite the resort to unmatched technological intelligence. One wonders at the unrestrained embrace of shows of violence and insensitivity of the decisionmakers involved. This is an appeal for them to reflect on their corporate responsibility to entertain the population in general and more particularly the youths of this country with more positive images to emulate, and to remember that we already live daily in a real world of violence. E.B. John
DEAR EDITOR, I wish to commend the National Commission on Disability and the Guyana Elections Commission for discussing new modalities that will allow for persons with disabilities to cast their ballot in the upcoming national and regional elections. This is indeed a step in the right direction and will only serve to enhance our democracy. People with disabilities are no different from any other person insofar as their intellect and faculty of reason is concerned. They have an interest in what is going on in the country and do have an opinion and a preference as to which from among the competing political parties will best represent their interest. In fact the very term “persons with disability” has
now become somewhat of a misnomer and they are now referred to as “persons who are differently-able” since as we all know disability does not prevent anyone from making their contribution to society in positive and in their own unique ways. I know of several persons with disabilities of one type or the other who were denied the opportunity to exercise their franchise in previous elections because of logistical difficulties to get them into the polling booth. This is an area that needed to be given some more consideration by GECOM in addition to the highly commendable measure to allow persons who are visually impaired to vote. Exercising the right to vote is not only a fundamental human right but also a sacred duty. I encourage all Guyanese to exercise that
right, especially in today’s context when votes are counted and elections are not only free and fair but free from fear. Hydar Ally
A step in the right direction
are dwindling in Guyana
DEAR EDITOR, Deep in their hearts, the ruling cabal believes that they have perfected the art of political distraction by demonstrating how easy it is to change the national conversation from their scandals and corrupt practices to other issues. But they are truly mistaken because the vast majority of Guyanese know that they are corrupt, incompetent and lack the managerial skills to run the country efficiently. Not only has the PPP regime undermined democracy, violated the constitution and stifled freedom of the press, but they have harassed those who have criticized their corrupt practices, including the publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, who has been threatened with violence by a government official. So for the PPP cabal to say that they condemned the murderous attacks at Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine in France, is repulsive and hypocritical. Days before the AFC announced that it would bring a no confidence motion against the corrupt PPP regime, the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal prorogued Parliament and in the process became a dictatorial regime. The ruling cabal is so
brazen that they believe that they are invincible and could do whatever they want and the people and opposition just have to accept it. Let the truth be told, the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime does not believe in freedom of the press and the people’s right to live in a free society and to express their opinions freely without fear of reprisals. There can be no dispute that for years they have harassed and threatened Kaieteur News, victimized and even killed those who have opposed their corrupt practices and exposed their thievery of the treasury and the country’s resources. The PPP is so antidemocratic that they have fired several of their critics. They have become so vindictive and evil that they have even written and demanded the dismissals of Carl Greenidge, Janette Bulkan and others from external organizations of which Guyana is a member. Yet, the PPP regime says it supports freedom of the press. Not even the deaf and the blind would believe a single word coming from the mouths of these charlatans. To put it mildly, the PPP cabal is un-diplomatic, antidemocratic and is an
embarrassment to the people of Guyana. For the president to condone the obnoxious, vulgar and violent threats by the Attorney General against the staff of Kaieteur News, the abusive cussing-down of the US Ambassador at his residence by Priya Manickchand and the president’s nasty and rude remarks against an Amerindian citizen at Aishalton is not only unbecoming of the president, but also makes him unsuita ble to be the Head of State. His condoning of vulgar behaviour and corrupt practices by ministers and senior PPP personnel in the government shows that he has no self-respect. Let’s call a spade a spade. The PPP fit the description of a ghetto regime when it instructed for confidential tax information of Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall to be released to private citizen Jagdeo and others, denied advertisements to Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, issued radio licences to family and friends of the regime, and used the state owned Chronicle, NCN-TV and radio stations to attack their opponents, spread propaganda and distort the Continued on page 23