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11th MAY 2007
MEDIA RELEASE
“PSC CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO RESTORE ADVERTISEMENTS TO STABROEK NEWS ”

The Private Sector Commission wishes to express its profound disappointment at the continuing action by Government to withhold advertisements from the Stabroek News which action has been extended further to over twenty (20) State Agencies.

The PSC notes that earlier calls have been made by the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association, the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce & Industry and the Association Regional Chambers of Commerce for such ill-advised action to be discontinued. The PSC notes with disappointment the failure of the Regional Media to resolve this issue.

The reasons given by the Government that its action was based on the circulation statistics of local newspapers and on economic considerations are viewed with scepticism by a wide cross section of the population.

Stabroek News is a widely read and respected newspaper which was in the forefront in the struggle for the return of democracy and civil liberties to Guyana. Many Guyanese, both at home and abroad, daily look forward to this popular newspaper for news and information on a wide range of issues. By the withdrawal of advertisements from this newspaper, citizens are denied the right to view important government notices in a paper of their choice.

The action taken to withhold advertisements from the Stabroek News strikes at the very heart of press freedom and at the respect for freedom of expression which Stabroek News promotes through its editorials and its letter columns which are subscribed to by Guyanese of every persuasion.

Such action is in direct contravention of the Declaration of Chapultepec on the granting or withdrawal by Governments of advertising. Guyana is on record as a signatory to this Declaration and this perceived punitive action by Government will place our country in a very embarrassing position.

The PSC therefore calls on our Government to restore advertisements to the Stabroek News without any further delay.