Government Ministers on Wednesday condemned a controversial advertisement which appeared in two newspapers.
The Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News carried an anonymously paid advertisement that read “Investors Beware, Go Invest Elsewhere.”
The publication of the controversial ad coincided with the opening of the petroleum summit GIPEX where scores of investors gathered to explore local investment opportunities.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon, in an invited comment on the sidelines of the GIPEX Summit, criticised the creators of the advertisement.
“The world is basically looking at us and why should we not recognsie that we are in a beautiful place and not try to damage it.
“I would just want to urge all of those persons who continue to write and speak about the negativity that they should think positive and see what is good for Guyana,” he stated.
Minister of Finance Winston Jordan was also critical of the advertisement.
“We Guyanese seem not to like ourselves. If we have a difference in the family, I am sure we can solve it. But when we bring it nationally so as to bring harm and put our country into disrepute. I think every right thinking Guyanese should be able to debunk it and say ‘no’,” Jordan stated.
The Finance Minister argued that “this has nothing to do with free speech. Free speech does not include shouting fire in a crowded place.”
The GIPEX Summit has over 100 participating companies.
The event aims to be a global initiative which will provide a networking platform for existing petroleum companies, service providers, equipment companies and investors through which interested parties will be informed about opportunities and developments in the oil and gas sector.
