Crackdown on mis-, disinformation, corruption coming – Ali

Last Updated on Monday, 8 September 2025, 22:30 by Writer

President Irfaan Ali on Sunday said his new administration would be targeting those who peddle disinformation and misinformation especially on digital platforms and go after corrupt persons in the public and private sector.

In a more than 30-minute address after he took the oath of office before Chancellor of the Judiciary Roxane George-Wiltshire on the lawns of State House before thousands of invitees, he said his government would pay close attention to global experiences when confronting and addressing such emerging threats.

“We will pay particular attention to examining ways in which future threats that emerge from misinformation through AI and digital platforms can affect the lives of citizens, destroy peace and safety, and undermine democracy,” he said.

It is unclear how his People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC)-led administration intends to exercise control domestically in light of the fact that there are at least one Facebook page and two social media personalities that target almost anyone who criticises the government and the ruling party. One of them is a vocal, abusive and abrasive pro-PPP social media influencer who recently advocated that action be taken on the residence of two well-known Guyanese businessmen with whom he had once enjoyed close relations but are now PPP opponents.

The obvious and glaring transgressions by those persons and social media pages are never criticised by the PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo or President Ali. Instead, sections of the independent media are frequently lambasted for their reportage, editorials or lines of questioning.

There are at least three well-known overseas-based anti-government social media activists who often accuse the PPP administration of corruption and racial discrimination. Two of them have in the recent past been slapped with defamation lawsuits by two then ministers in the 2020-2025 administration.

Dr Ali did not say whether the Commissioner of Information, Retired Justice Charles Ramson would be removed amid persistent concerns that members of the public are unable to access information as a right safeguarded by the Access to Information Act.

However, the Guyanese leader committed to ensuring open government. “At the same time, we recognise and respect the essential watchdog role of the media, and we will ensure greater transparency by instituting mechanisms in every ministry and department that provide the facts in a timely way,” he said.

The President also hinted that action would be taken against those who disseminate what the government considers offensive information. “Additionally, and of no less importance, we must hold those who are tasked with the dissemination of information accountable for their actions. They must be held accountable, also,” he said.

The People’s National Congress Reform/A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance For Change, and the PPPC have had a long history of state media control and censorship in which opponents and critics are largely excluded from having their perspectives shared but criticised by the government and governing party of the day.

The High Court recently deemed as unconstitutional criminal defamation laws, but there are other pieces of legislation such as the Defamation Act, Racial Hostility Act, Broadcasting Act, Sexual Offences Act, Cyber Crime Act and the Child Protection Act that already impinge on the work of the media but are hardly enforced, except for the Defamation Act in the civil court.

Corruption

The President also announced that his government would establish a “dedicated” anti-corruption unit to ensure efficiency, fairness, and credibility of public service. He said the anti-corruption fight would also be extended to the private sector. “That is why we will strengthen our anti-corruption efforts by establishing a dedicated anti-corruption Unit, tasked with excising this cancer from our institutions and holding public and private officials to the highest standards of integrity.

Every official will be required to account for their personal assets, and anyone who cannot do so will face the full force of the law. We will pursue both the corrupted and the corrupters, leaving no room for impunity,” he said.

Dr Ali used the opportunity to emphasise that the government does not have a system of lobbying, and persons representing themselves as lobbyists or peddling access to anyone in government is misrepresenting themselves and misleading others. “A special mechanism will be set up to deal with such individuals,” he said.