The Media Association of Jamaica (MAJ) yesterday joined the chorus of regional condemnation of the action of the Guyana government in withdrawing advertising from the Stabroek newspaper, and called on the administration of President Bharrat Jagdeo to ensure equity in the Guyanese media market.

The move by the Jamaican media houses coincided with a letter being sent by the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) to President Jagdeo, reiterating its concern over the official "discrimination" against the independent Stabroek News. The heads of Caribbean media are also preparing to discuss the issue in St. Vincent next week with the heads of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments.

"We trust that the matter, on careful review, can be amicably and quickly settled so as to restore equity and balance to the media landscape in Guyana," said the MAJ's chairman, David McBean, in yesterday's statement.

Newspaper Lambasted

Direct government advertising to Stabroek News, normally channelled through the Guyana Information Agency (GINA), began to dry up last November during the campaign for the country's general election when Jagdeo lambasted the newspaper for being critical of his administration and accused it of fostering the development of a new political party.

The situation has worsened in recent weeks with the state-owned electricity supplier, Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) joining ministries and agencies in cutting off ads.

Both companies are chaired by Ronald Alli, whose promise to Stabroek's Editor in Chief, David DeCaires, to "investigate" the complaints, yielding nothing.

Attack on the freedom of thought

Jamaica's MAJ termed the developments in Guyana "unfortunate", but IAPA, a grouping of more than 1,300 newspapers in the Western Hemisphere, was more forthright, telling Jagdeo in a letter this week that the action by his government was an attack on the freedom of thought enshrined in the Inter-American Declaration of Human Rights.

"We herewith urge you to abandon and correct the attitude of confrontation and punishment, which is contrary to the full existence of free speech and press freedom in your country," said IAPA in the letter signed by its president, Rafael Molina, and the chairman of its committee on press freedom, Gonzalo Marrquin.

Meantime, representatives from The Gleaner, the Barbados Nation and the Trinidad Express newspapers will join Stabroek's DeCaires in St. Vincent where they will take their complaint against the Guyana Government to Jagdeo's Caribbean colleagues.

President Jagdeo is to be among the leaders attending a inter-sessional summit of CARICOM heads of government.