US Human Rights Report notes press freedom issues in Guyana

Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, 19:40 by Writer

The United States (US) 2024 Country Report on Human Rights Practices says several members of the media reported that they faced discrimination and hostile personal verbal attacks in response to public inquiries.

President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo have been sharply criticised for handling sections of the privately-owned media when faced with uncomfortable questions.

While the independent news media were active and expressed a wide variety of views, the Human Rights Report also states that “the “ruling party monopolized state-owned media.” Both the People’s National Congress/Reform and People’s Progressive Party Civic-led administrations have been controlling the state-owned media as their propaganda outfits.

The Report, which documents the state of human rights for last year, states that the government “generally respected” Guyana’s constitutionally enshrined right to freedom of expressions, including for the press and other media.

In the area of censorship by governments, the Human Rights Report states that members of the media reported the government leveraged access to state advertising funds to censor indirectly independent media outlets.

The privately-owned independent Stabroek News newspaper, which was the subject of a state advertising ban, in 2006, earlier this year complained that government was tardy in settling its advertising debt. That newspaper’s reportage is often criticised by government.

The US Human Rights report further states that members of the press reported the government ignored their requests for information, which impeded their work.

Guyana is believed to be the only country in the English-speaking Caribbean that does not hold post-cabinet press conferences and periodic press conferences by the Head of Government. Instead of the weekly post-cabinet press conferences that the previous People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) had held from 1992 to 2015, the media and by extension the public are treated to three four-hour long press engagements at the party’s headquarters, Freedom House, by the PPP General Secretary, also Guyana’s 2nd Vice President.

Whenever members of the media told him that they were unsuccessful in reaching specific ministers, Mr Jagdeo had said he would ask them to respond.

The dissemination of public information ranging from the Guyana Police Force to government ministries is heavily centralised in the hands of the executive. Despite serious crimes and controversial incidents, the police force has not held a news conference for several years now. Media queries often go unanswered.