Dear Editor,
At the recent BBC WORLD QUESTIONS public forum, it appeared that the audience was heavily divided along political lines. A significant portion of the crowd seemed to be supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), and their presence and applause were quite noticeable throughout the event.
The moderator also appeared to give the government minister more speaking time than the other panelists, which raised questions about whether the discussion was fully balanced. One panelist, Clinton, largely repeated what sounded like PPP talking points, while another panelist who works in the oil sector tried to maintain a neutral position. However, she avoided offering any direct criticism of the government.
It was also noticeable that the supporters of the two main political groups in Guyana, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the People’s National Congress (PNC), turned out in large numbers. The reactions from the audience often reflected these divisions.
From where I sat, many of the PPP supporters appeared to be seated together on the northern side of the venue, and the applause at times seemed to be coordinated, with encouragement from Kwame McCoy. Overall, the atmosphere suggested that political loyalties played a strong role in shaping both the audience reaction and the tone of the discussion.