Former President Bharrat Jagdeo appears hell bent on stifling the growth and operations of the media locally and is again coming in for flak, this time over his latest attempt.The Guyana Press Association (GPA), a fraternity of local journalists has since publicly condemned Jagdeo’s latest endeavor as, “dangerous and instructive.”The press body, headed by Senior Journalist Neil Marks, yesterday, by way of a public missive expressed concern over a recent call by Opposition Leader Jagdeo, for supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), to refrain from buying newspapers which do not support the views of that party.Jagdeo reportedly made the remarks as he was addressing an event on October 5, 2015, held at Red House.At that forum, he told supporters, “please ensure that our people don’t buy newspapers where the sole purpose of the newspaper is to destroy your party.”The Press Association believes Jagdeo’s statement is both dangerous and instructive.“Dangerous, because it highlights the fact that Jagdeo is bent on stifling the growth and operations of the media, something which he brazenly practiced as President when he withdrew State advertisements from the Stabroek News…Instructive, because Jagdeo’s missive demonstrates that he understands the powerful role of the free press.”The GPA said Jagdeo’s statement is designed to stifle the revenue base of the privately-owned media and frustrate their efforts to provide the populace with news and information.“The Guyana Press Association condemns Mr Jagdeo’s statement and that of any other politician or official who attempts to thwart the work of the free press.”The GPA maintained that the media in Guyana continues to be the watchdog of, “our democratic processes and the GPA rallies around a free and independent press.”SN&KN AttacksJagdeo had attracted similar criticisms a few years ago after he addressed a Private Sector Forum and had called for them to actually stop putting advertisements in this publication.In August 2009, Jagdeo, while addressing the Private Sector Commission dinner,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys China, had accused that body of aiding and abetting what he called the sensationalizing of the news,Cheap China Jerseys, since they advertise with this newspaper.That attack, coupled with the withdrawal of advertisements from both the Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News,Cheap Jerseys Online, had been seen by observers as a calculated move to stifle the private media by the then sitting President.The President subsequently found himself in even more hot water after he re-instated advertisements to the Stabroek News and then to the Guyana Times, a fledgling newspaper with which he shares a close association.Stabroek News at the time had also put together a half year analysis of the government advertisements placed in the daily newspaper and found that while the allocations of advertisements to the Kaieteur and Stabroek News plummeted,China Jerseys, the allocations to Guyana Times simultaneously escalated to the point it was getting more than both leading dailies despite the fact that its circulation is negligible.The Guyana Times continued to receive hefty portions of State advertisements, despite maintaining a meager circulation throughout the latter years of PPP/C rule.Radio FrequenciesJagdeo’s blatant discrimination and deliberate attempts to stifle the local media did not stop there.Before demitting office in 2011, he again came in for flak after it was discovered that he farmed out the nation’s radio frequencies to friends, relatives and cronies.The radio frequencies went mainly to his best friend,Cheap Jerseys Authentic, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, the ruling Peoples’ Progressive Party, and to an overseas-based sister of the then Natural Resources Minister,China Jerseys, Robert Persaud.These three were given multiple frequencies allowing them countrywide coverage.Others were granted single frequencies, giving them limited range in their transmissions.It can also be recalled that frequencies were given by Jagdeo to E-Networks and Quark Communications Inc., two companies he has close links with, to run cable TV services.Quark, E-Networks and Global Technology’s iNet Communications were also named in a law the PPP had proposed and were to automatically benefit from telecoms licences.Jagdeo and Ramroop are linked to all three companies but the coalition A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government has since revised the legislation removing this provision.

Two men, who pretended to be customers, walked into the Minimart at Rubis Gas Station yesterday on Vlissingen Road and robbed the store as well a Chinese national.Kaieteur News understands that at approximately 17:00 hours, the store had two customers and two cashiers at the front of the entity and was operating during a power outage at the time. However, when the electricity was restored, the two suspects were spotted leaving a blue and black motorcycle CF1036,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, parked in frontThe Rubis Gas Station and Minimart.of the store’s entrance.According to the Store Supervisor who painted a vivid picture of the series of events that took place,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, she related to this publication that,Discount NFL Jerseys, “these men literally took advantage of us. One of them was tall, brown in complexion and had on a helmet.“He seemed about 6 ft 4 inches. The other was short and dark skin and he appeared to be 5ft 3 inches. They entered and pretended to be customers, but I immediately suspected them to be shoplifters.The short one stayed at the door and the tall one just cruising around the store. When he stopped at the washroom I asked him what he wanted but he said nothing to me. He continued walking and then he stopped in front of the wine case and I asked again if he is looking for something and he said wine and I asked what kind of wine but he again did not respond to my question.“I noticed he had two tear drop tattoos below his left eye but I realized that something was wrong at this point. Suddenly he then went to the General office which another supervisor and cashier were occupying. I then made an attempt to leave but the short one at the door push me back and said no one is leaving and pushed his hand under his shirt as though he had a gun but I knew he didn’t have anything because I could see his hands printing through.”She added, “I saw the tall one in the general office pull out a gun which looked like a revolver and asked the women for the bag,Cheap Jerseys, but they asked which bag and he said he wanted the bag with the money. The supervisor then told him that they don’t work in that office and they don’t know where the money is. The suspect then fired off two rounds into the roof and the two women became very frightened.“They then revealed to him that the person that knows about the money is outside. He then came out for me and pulled me into the room. He started to point the gun aimlessly as though he was scared as well but I gave him the money which was more than $100,000 and I begged him not to hurt anyone.“He then asked for the rest and I told him that the rest is not here, that it is at the bank. He got angry and started pulling out all the drawers and looking for more money but found none.“He then left the room and went to the Chinese national who was standing by the register and took his Iphone and over $30,NFL Jerseys Outlet,000. He and the short one then ran out and escaped on the motorcycle.”The supervisor said that she strongly believes that the suspects had their eyes on the minimart for some time for when they entered the store,Jerseys NFL Wholesale China, they appeared to be very familiar with it.Detectives are currently investigating the matter as a ballistics test is scheduled to be conducted next week on the roof that was penetrated by the bullets.