The Guyana Times newspaper says it has received a number of threats from persons who demanded that they cease publishing news items critical to the APNU+AFC Administration.
According to a statement from the media entity Monday evening, the callers threatened that should the newspaper continue to publish such articles, “its owners, management and affiliate companies will face dire consequences.”
The newspaper company claims that the anonymous callers have claimed to be “agents of the government”.
Though the newspaper did not outline what actions it will be taking at this stage, it assured its readers that it will not be intimidated by the threats.
“We will not be intimidated by these threats and will continue to report and cover the news fairly and fearlessly as it unfolds,” the media outlet stated.
The Guyana Times said that since its establishment ten years ago, it has striven to express the views of all Guyanese irrespective of religion, race, creed, or political background.
The company says it has stood as a firm watchdog of the country’s democracy and against Government excesses.
“We are of the view that this threat is aimed at silencing us as a media house from performing our role as the fourth estate of democratic government,” the media house stated.
But the Guyana Times explained that freedom of the press is protected by Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration. As such, the newspaper views the threats to its publication as an overall threat to press freedom.
Article 19 states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
