Dear Editor,
Sunday, March 15 marks the last day Stabroek News will be published.[1] Some may see this as the end of an era. I refuse to accept that conclusion so easily. I choose instead to hold to the belief that all is not yet lost; that a newspaper which has served this nation for 40 years can still keep its press fresh and continue to perform a service that no healthy society can do without—the defence of freedom of expression and the people’s right to know.
Let us not pretend that the closure of this newspaper carries no wider meaning. It does. It speaks to the state of a society where good governance is under threat, the judiciary is seen by many as compromised, the executive grows increasingly intolerant, and the legislature appears weakened and ineffective. In such an environment, fear stalks the land.
The corridors of public life have grown hostile to independent and alternative views. Politics have become exclusionary rather than inclusionary. Discrimination and marginalisation persist. Too many citizens choose silence lest they lose a contract, be pushed onto the breadline, or see their families suffer. In circumstances like these, Stabroek News has stood as a beacon of hope. Imperfect it may be—perceived shortcomings and all—but it has remained a place where voices could be raised, opinions aired, and those entrusted with authority questioned.
Our nation now stands at a dangerous crossroads. If we are serious about preserving and advancing the democratic gains secured by those who came before us, then we must speak plainly and fearlessly. The Irfaan Ali/Bharrat Jagdeo regime must honour the state’s debt to Stabroek News. It is widely known that the government owes the newspaper more than $80 million in advertising.
Let me make it very clear- this is not a case where the state cannot afford to pay, for it can. And what is at stake here is far greater than a financial transaction. It is about whether a society understands the consequences of allowing a platform that facilitates independent and dissenting voices to fall silent. It is about whether we value institutions that hold both government and opposition—those entrusted with the people’s mandate—accountable. Even at the ninth hour, we must press for good sense to prevail in the corridors of power.
There is also the human cost, and it must not be ignored. When Stabroek News stops printing, workers lose their livelihoods. Journalists, printers, columnists, administrative staff and others who have devoted years of labour to the institution will suddenly face uncertainty. Behind every job stands a household—a family that depends on that income to keep food on the table, children in school, and dignity intact. When employment disappears, it is not only workers who suffer. Families suffer. Communities suffer. A responsible nation must never treat such consequences as incidental.
I am aware that some argue the newspaper’s predicament reflects its own political positioning—that it was seen as sympathetic to the PPP administration, that it went soft on the regime, and that perhaps the chickens have come home to roost. There are those who believe the PPP values individuals and institutions only when they serve the party’s interest. I understand these views. But even if some hold them, the larger principle remains unchanged.
A democratic society requires multiple voices, not fewer. We need a national space where spirited debates and discussions flourish, especially as we navigate a social environment growing more individualistic by the day—one where instant gratification, lawlessness and the dangerous notion that might is right are beginning to take root. These are not the hallmarks of a society progressing. They are warning signs of a society in decay.
And so let me state clearly- Stabroek News has rendered yeoman service. For decades it has facilitated voices, expressions and reporting that helped the nation navigate difficult waters. In its own way it has helped defend the rights and freedoms of citizens while reminding leaders that authority must always answer to the people. For that reason alone, its survival matters.
Today I again add my voice to the call to keep this newspaper alive. The PPP administration must engage the management and owners of Stabroek News in meaningful dialogue to find a path forward. Let us hope that while the presses may pause and the ink may dry for a moment, the matter is resolved before that ink flakes to the floor. The press must remain in the hands of Stabroek News.
The struggle to keep Stabroek News alive is not simply about saving a newspaper. It is about defending a space where citizens can question authority without fear. When institutions that facilitate public scrutiny disappear, democracy weakens and the people lose. Let it never be said that when the moment demanded courage, we chose silence instead. The hour calls for leadership, responsibility and wisdom—for a nation that silences independent voices ultimately silences itself.