GUYANA MEDIA DEMANDS APOLOGY
 

The Guyana Press Association (GPA) is demanding a political party leader to apologise for threatening violence against a media worker.

At a recent public forum in the capital, Unity Party (UP) leader, Dr Cheddi 'Joey' Jagan threatened to "slap" Kaieteur News columnist, Freddie Kisson, for his remarks about his father, former Guyana President Dr Cheddi Jagan.

In it Kissoon wrote, "Jagan in power was worse than Jagan in opposition."

"For Dr Jagan to threaten to slap Mr Kissoon for his views, is to open the floodgates for anyone to attack a media worker who holds a differing point of view," the GPA statement said.

"The GPA therefore urges Dr Jagan to apologise for his outburst and to retract his statement. We would also ask him to desist from threatening any media worker," the release said.

It said: "Mr Kissoon's views are sacrosanct as are Dr Jagan's who often spoke scathingly about many people, not least among them the hierarchy of the PPP (the ruling People's Progressive Party).

"We at the Guyana Press Association are committed to preserving the right of the reporters and journalists to perform their tasks without fear or favour."

The local media body said while it does not always support the views of media workers, "we recognise that people have a right to express such views. There will always be a divergence of views in any society if there is to be progress especially in societies that consider themselves free."

It warned that the threat by Jagan against Kissoon is troubling especially "since it comes so soon after the execution of Ronald Waddell," a former journalist, and TV talk show host.