Dear Editor,
In countries such as Guyana, the media particularly newspapers such as yours is one of the most powerful and often only weapon for ordinary citizens without power, influence or connections. While getting the ‘news’ from social media has become mainstream, especially with younger people, is it credible? News on social media is about sensationalism, drama, gore and getting the most views. Often, only one side is presented and viewers tend to either mock, bully or empathise with the subject(s). Is there really any serious consideration of the substance of what is presented apart from the appearance and behaviour of the subjects? Generally speaking, do these social media stories provoke any sort of intellectual debate or response from the relevant authorities?
For instance, recently I saw a video with three older women and a political figure arguing about some sort of issue. This video has gone viral and these women are constantly mocked and have become memes on social media. Whatever issue they have is ‘lost in translation’ and they have become the butt of jokes. While there are countrywide discussions on how to stop bullying, bullying is the norm on social media. Hopefully, these women are mentally strong and realise that another story will soon capture the attention of social media users.
On the other hand, if a newspaper had covered this story the reporter would have investigated the issue and the different sides would have had their say instead of the ladies being mocked and the ‘issue’ hidden. In our society, we often refer to the horrors of colonialism and the imposition of western ways including mannerism and speech on Guyanese yet Guyanese are quick to mock and bully their fellow Guyanese who use the local dialect and probably didn’t receive a tertiary education although some of the most well-known dictators and unsavoury characters were the most ‘educated’ among their peers. Is social media news and is news from state-owned entities really objective, unbiased and well investigated especially if the stories implicate state-owned entities?
While we may be short on options, the Stabroek News has provided a platform, free of cost for ordinary Guyanese to share their opinions and air their grievances in the public arena without the requirement of titles and belonging to a particular class. For me, many times it was my only option, and I got the required assistance when my letters were published. Your paper was my most powerful and only weapon and it was free of cost. While there are other newspapers, would a state-owned paper publish a letter highlighting failures by a state-owned entity?
People may say that one should visit these places to get one’s issues addressed however, it usually makes no difference. For instance, my neighbour was burning garbage from his bar on a daily basis, and this was severely affecting my health. Over a span of years, I visited the NDC, RDC, EPA, police station and even the Ministry of Local Government and still this simple problem couldn’t be addressed. Although, as a business owner, he should have disposed of his garbage in the correct manner and burning garbage is illegal none of these entities couldn’t fix the issue. And even though, several private garbage trucks and the NDC’s own collected garbage on a weekly basis from the village, the business owner was empowered and behaved like a bully because he was aware of the ineffectiveness and sloth of these entities.
Imagine, on a visit to the Local Government Ministry, the staff threatened to call security and have me thrown out of the building after I accused them of being corrupt because I was frustrated with the inaction and being sick constantly. The then Minister heard what I said and decided to hear my grievance. He called the then chairman of the NDC on loudspeaker and told him to address the matter. Not surprisingly, the Chairman never took any effective action. It wasn’t until I turned to Stabroek News and the matter was publicised that I got the relief I sought.
On social media I was even mocked by Guyanese living abroad who wouldn’t dare burn garbage in their neighbourhoods. And some even questioned why a newspaper would bother with such a ‘trivial’ issue but your newspaper was the only outlet that proved effective for such a ‘trivial’ issue.
While for many it’s about politics, for ordinary citizens often it’s just about problems that they are affected by and can’t get help with but by publishing these stories in your ‘Letters to the Editor’ pages these people are able to get the required assistance. And ordinary people are able to express their views on a range of issues be it alcoholism, domestic violence, minibus culture, school matters or workplace problems. I’ve had letters published about poor customer service, matters in the education sector, environmental problems etc., and others have even asked me to write for them. For instance, once about an alligator in a bush covered trench that the NDC didn’t clean, refund for a plane ticket and a bully using roads in the neighbourhood as a site for his truck business.[1]
Editor, is there a replacement for your ‘Letters to the Editor’ column? Would those with power and authority to effect change take note of a social media post or video that has become a meme after supporters and ‘jokesters’ decimated the willpower of the subject through bullying, mocking and derogatory remarks? Often, the people with power act because they are aware that the diplomatic community, international readers and more powerful persons have read the letters.
The Stabroek News ‘Letters to the Editor’ column has provided a public service to ordinary Guyanese when the relevant authorities failed or ignored them.[2] It has also provided an invaluable platform for Guyanese from all walks of life to be heard and have their views considered in the public sphere. And when it’s comes to one’s wellbeing, in one’s moments of frustration and despair having this outlet has helped with one’s mental health. Thank you, Editor for publishing my letters and assisting me for over a decade with various issues by investigating, reporting and publishing them in the Stabroek News.