Guyana scores high in Reporters Without Borders ratings
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| Published on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 |
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GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- Guyana notched up 49 places from 88 in 2008 to 39 in the Reporters Without Borders 2009 Press Freedom Index, which was released on Tuesday.
Guyana tied 39th with Bosnia, Herzegovina and Chile, overtaking Suriname (42) with only Jamaica at 23 and Trinidad and Tobago at 28 ahead.
However, both Trinidad and Jamaica have slipped down the table with Jamaica placing 21st in 2008 and Trinidad 27.
According to RWB this leap in Guyana’s rankings is an indication that the country is becoming more and more democratic as there is less tension between the media
It noted, as is common with most English-speaking countries in the Caribbean, Guyana has a satisfactory record in fundamental freedoms as journalists here, experience very few threats or assaults
However, the press concerns are chiefly focused on relations with the government and the continuous state monopoly on radio, which is being increasingly contested within the profession.
The other issue the report cited is that of the ban on Capitol News reporter Gordon Moseley from office of the president and state house
“The hot-headed president’s extreme sensitivity to criticism complicates the job of some media. A producer and journalist on privately owned television station, Capitol News, Gordon Moseley was banned access to the Office of the President, in July 2008, because the head of state was displeased by his report on his visit to Antigua in which he referred to comments about safety problems in the capital Georgetown and failed to respond to government calls to apologise,” the report cited.
It has however lauded the administration for reversing the policy of withdrawing advertisements from Stabroek News backroom.
Other Caribbean countries on the index are Suriname 41st, Haiti 57th, Dominican Republic 98 and Cuba continuing to slip down to 170.
Meanwhile, focusing on other parts of the world the report said “It is disturbing to see European democracies such as France, Italy and Slovakia fall steadily in the rankings year after year”
it added that the approach of President Barack Obama has enabled the United States to recover 20 places in the index, to 108, however this is not enough as that country continues to claim it is the fortress of democracy
Reporters Without Borders' annual index is based on questionnaires completed by journalists and media experts around the world.
This year’s index reflects press freedom violations that took place between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009. | | | | Reads : 623 | | | |
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