GUYANA Elections Commission Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally yesterday issued a stirring appeal to the media to be responsible in their reporting, while demanding that the “dotishness” appearing in some media reports must stop.Speaking at a media conference at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown, Dr Surujbally said while there is a Media Code of Conduct in place, there are some who want to besmirch the image of the Commission. This, he said, is not conducive to a healthy environment in the lead-up to the May 11 polls.
He said the Commission is committed to working with the media to provide any clarification that they may need, pointing to a familiarisation workshop for media personal on the elections process that was held last Saturday.
“We explain to them the terminologies that we use so that we do not mix up Continuous Registration with House to House Registration, with a Periodic Registration, with a registration that is coming on during the Claims and Objections period.”
On this note, he lauded the addition of a glossary to the revised Media Code of Conduct, which was signed onto by the various media houses yesterday after two days of discussion.
The GECOM Chairman also warned journalists against bombarding him with questions that have been repeatedly answered before.
“You cannot be inviting me to swim in your sewage and expect me to jump overboard, I will not be going overboard with you, you talk nonsense, we are going to tell you that you are talking nonsense,” he said.
The somewhat worked up Dr Surajbally added: “The dotishness cannot continue, it has to stop and I hope that is part of the Media Code of Conduct too, that you do not print certain things that you have answers to.”
DESIST FROM SENSATIONALISM
He said while sensationalism sells, journalists and editors must desist from the practice, especially where it unfairly questions the work of the Commission at this critical time.
On this note, he pointed to a headline in “big font” in one section of the media, on the $20 million allocated for the purchase of Duracell batteries, where a demand was made for justification. The media outfit had contended that the allocation happened at a time when the “children of Guyana are starving”.
The GECOM Chairman said the justification is simple. There are 2,300 polling stations; each will require two Coleman lamps, with each lamp requiring eight batteries. There will be four extra batteries for each station just in case.
He explained that the indictment is not on GECOM, pointing out that if there was 24 hours of electricity uninterrupted, there would have been no need for the batteries. However, the GECOM Chairman emphasised that if there is a blackout and there is no plan B, the Chief Executive Officer of GECOM, Keith Lowenfield will be hauled over the coals.
“So its 20 batteries (per station), 2,300 polling stations and you do the division on the $20 million; it comes up to those Duracell batteries at $300 for one. You going to buy one of those big Duracell batteries, you know it cannot happen. But you see the scandal.”
He urged journalists to always take the straight and narrow path as he encouraged them to challenge their editors and media owners who want sensationalisation to sell their newspapers.
TRUTH IS OUR SHIELD
“That is your honour. Ask us the hard questions, we will find you the answers for them. The truth is our shield and the Chief Elections Officer will always answer you,” the GECOM Chairman said.
(By Tajeram Mohabir )