WHEN the Stabroek News’ ads were withdrawn for various reasons, the newspaper protested everyday that this government was stifling freedom of the press.

But this said paper, despite the claims kept publishing what it wanted to promulgate. Isn’t that freedom of the press where no entity is sanctioned for what it says?

But what I really want to highlight is that when the PPP/C government is being attacked almost daily, there is no claim that freedom is stymied, however, it is a different situation when the PNCR’s faults are pointed out.

I noticed the party and its members writing in the media, accusing the SN of being biased and ‘selling its soul, all because the newspaper editorialized about its protests saying that the PNCR latches onto any topic that is in vogue at the time.

PNCR, you should take the criticisms with a grain of salt to improve on your image which, sadly I must say, is battered. Indeed I tend to agree with the SN that the party latches onto anything to protest. Remember the protests started with the Sharma suspension issue? What happened thereafter? It fell off the protest radar and other issues took over such as Hinckson’s case, VAT, cost of living and Carifesta! Mr. Corbin’s threat to make Carifesta unmanageable is totally ludicrous!

How can a politician, especially a learned one like Mr. Corbin, pronounce that he would make a Caribbean event unmanageable? In the eyes of the Caribbean people, no doubt he is seen as a curmudgeon.

My point is that freedom of speech has never been more respected than what we are experiencing here in Guyana and I would urge the PNCR not to take criticisms personally but to use them to help raise the lagging image of the party.
RICHMOND LAMAR